Guide to driving during heavy rain

With the mopping operations underway following heavy rains that flooded partsof Tshwane, motorists were once again urged to be extra vigilant when driving in wet rainy conditions.

On Friday evening and most of Saturday, several motorists had to be rescued after they were trapped inside their vehicles on water-logged roads due to flooding.

Tshwane emergency services department had their hands full where dozens of people had to be rescued; unfortunately, two died, while three are still missing.

During a multi-discipline rescue operation on Saturday, a man was rescued after he was located about 500m downstream, in the river, while clinging to a tree.

On Sunday morning, a body of a man was found inside a vehicle that was stuck on a low-water bridge in Hennops Park, Centurion.

The vehicle was pinned against a tree near the river bank and largely submerged underwater, Cert-SA said at the time.

MasterDrive CEO, Eugene Herber said motorists should avoid low-lying bridges, areas prone to flash floods, or large pools of water in the road wherever possible.

Should one find themselves on the roads encountering heavy rainfall, Herber said motorists should follow these safety tips:

– Turn on your headlights.

– Adjust your speed to conditions. This includes reducing your speed if other
vehicles have reduced their speed.

– Leave larger following distances so there is more time to respond if
something goes wrong.

– Give yourself more time to stop or to go around corners.

– Reduced speed is the best way to reduce the chances of sliding out of
control.

– If your car is sliding out of control, slowly lift your foot from the
accelerator but do not brake hard or move your steering wheel violently.

– If you start to skid, don’t slam on the brakes. Continue steering in the
direction you want to go and do not make any harsh adjustments.

– If the downpour becomes extreme, pull over at a petrol station or another
safe place.

– Estimate the depth of the water and avoid driving through water that comes to
the middle of your tyre or higher. Most drivers risk driving through a pool of
water, but it is easy to underestimate the depth. Additionally, roads that
collect water are more vulnerable to collapse and create potholes.

– Where possible, drive in the middle of a road where the water is at its
lowest.

– Never drive through fast-flowing water, it is very difficult to judge its
depth.

– Once you are through the water, lightly touch your brakes a few times to dry
them off.

– If you stall and you are not in danger of being swept away, do not restart
your car. Rather get a mechanic to check that no water has made its way into
the engine.

– If you feel your car losing grip with the road, open the door to let some of
the water in which might help to weigh the car down and allow the tyres to grip
the road again.

– If you are in danger of being swept away, abandon your vehicle if you have an
opportunity to do so safely.

ALSO READ: Afternoon thunderstorms expected this week, nothing severe says SA Weather Service

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