With record-setting rain throughout the Metro East St. Louis, Missouri area, standing water and flooding is definitely an issue for motorists. Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR offers these vital tips:
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Don’t Drown Your Car – High Water Dangers:
Big rains are generating enough water to flood area roads. The depth of standing water in a storm can be deceiving. Motorists should not drive through standing water at any depth. Should you be driving on the road and come across standing water, your most secure plan of action is always to simply just turn your vehicle around and avoid it altogether. No matter how familiar you might be with the road, never drive through standing water—at any depth—as it may cause significant damage to your car. If a car is driven through standing water, a driver risks flooding the motor, warping brake rotors, loss of power steering, or a short in the electrical components of your vehicle, all of which may be expensive to fix.
Four Quick Flood Facts
1. Just one foot of water can “float” the majority of vehicles.
2. Two feet of running water can sweep away most vehicles—including sports utility vehicles and pick-ups.
3. Repair costs for damage brought on by driving through standing water may range from several hundred to thousands of dollars.
4. Don't try to start an automobile which is submerged.
How to proceed if your vehicle does become submerged:
- Before attempting to start up a flood-damaged vehicle, call a reliable auto technician like Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois and get an appointment to have them inspect all readily accessible mechanical and electrical elements, and systems that contain fluids, for water contamination.
- Drain floodwater from corrupted components and systems, flush with clean water or a suitable solvent, and refill with new clean fluids of the proper kind.
- Inspect, clean, and dry electrical system parts and connections.
Get A Grip – A Cahokia, Illinois Self-Help Guide To Wet Weather Tactics
Safe driving during heavy rain starts with good tire tread, firm brakes, and streak-free wipers. Wet weather driving strategies will help vehicle operators deal with limited visibility and traction, steering, braking, and skid control.
- The simplest way to stop on a slippery surface if your motor vehicle does not have antilock brakes is to use threshold braking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply strong, steady pressure on the brake pedal to the “threshold” of locking your brakes.
- Make use of your defroster to keep front and rear windshields clear. On a cold day, move the heat control to “hot” and have the engine warm up prior to turning on the defrosters and blowers. This will prevent moisture from gathering on the inside of the glass. If the glass becomes foggy, open a window slightly and turn the defroster fan to a higher speed. Use your air conditioner to lessen humidity.
- Whenever you drive on wet roadways, mud and dirt splash on your headlights, lowering illumination by up to ninety percent. Stop every now and then on a long trip to clean your headlights.
- When visibility is so restricted that you cannot see the edges of the road or other automobiles at a safe distance, it is time to pull off and wait for rain to let up. It is best to stop at a rest area or exit the freeway and search for a protected area. If the roadside is your sole option, pull off the roadway as far as possible, ideally past the end of a guardrail. Automobiles parked at the side of the road tend to be struck by other drivers. Appreciate the limitations of decreased visibility and turn headlights off and emergency flashes on to warn other motorists.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR, servicing Columbia, Waterloo, Southern Illinois, Millstadt, Freeburg, and Athens, IL wants to ensure that you are safe when you have to travel in possibly hazardous conditions. If your vehicle’s been immersed in floodwater, or if you simply have other questions about safe driving, contact Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR at 618-281-2886.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Don’t Drown Your Car – High Water Dangers:Big rains are generating enough water to flood area roads. The depth of standing water in a storm can be deceiving. Motorists should not drive through standing water at any depth. Should you be driving on the road and come across standing water, your most secure plan of action is always to simply just turn your vehicle around and avoid it altogether. No matter how familiar you might be with the road, never drive through standing water—at any depth—as it may cause significant damage to your car. If a car is driven through standing water, a driver risks flooding the motor, warping brake rotors, loss of power steering, or a short in the electrical components of your vehicle, all of which may be expensive to fix.
Four Quick Flood Facts
1. Just one foot of water can “float” the majority of vehicles.
2. Two feet of running water can sweep away most vehicles—including sports utility vehicles and pick-ups.
3. Repair costs for damage brought on by driving through standing water may range from several hundred to thousands of dollars.
4. Don't try to start an automobile which is submerged.
How to proceed if your vehicle does become submerged:
- Before attempting to start up a flood-damaged vehicle, call a reliable auto technician like Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois and get an appointment to have them inspect all readily accessible mechanical and electrical elements, and systems that contain fluids, for water contamination.
- Drain floodwater from corrupted components and systems, flush with clean water or a suitable solvent, and refill with new clean fluids of the proper kind.
- Inspect, clean, and dry electrical system parts and connections.
Get A Grip – A Cahokia, Illinois Self-Help Guide To Wet Weather Tactics
Safe driving during heavy rain starts with good tire tread, firm brakes, and streak-free wipers. Wet weather driving strategies will help vehicle operators deal with limited visibility and traction, steering, braking, and skid control.
- The simplest way to stop on a slippery surface if your motor vehicle does not have antilock brakes is to use threshold braking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply strong, steady pressure on the brake pedal to the “threshold” of locking your brakes.
- Make use of your defroster to keep front and rear windshields clear. On a cold day, move the heat control to “hot” and have the engine warm up prior to turning on the defrosters and blowers. This will prevent moisture from gathering on the inside of the glass. If the glass becomes foggy, open a window slightly and turn the defroster fan to a higher speed. Use your air conditioner to lessen humidity.
- Whenever you drive on wet roadways, mud and dirt splash on your headlights, lowering illumination by up to ninety percent. Stop every now and then on a long trip to clean your headlights.
- When visibility is so restricted that you cannot see the edges of the road or other automobiles at a safe distance, it is time to pull off and wait for rain to let up. It is best to stop at a rest area or exit the freeway and search for a protected area. If the roadside is your sole option, pull off the roadway as far as possible, ideally past the end of a guardrail. Automobiles parked at the side of the road tend to be struck by other drivers. Appreciate the limitations of decreased visibility and turn headlights off and emergency flashes on to warn other motorists.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR, servicing Columbia, Waterloo, Southern Illinois, Millstadt, Freeburg, and Athens, IL wants to ensure that you are safe when you have to travel in possibly hazardous conditions. If your vehicle’s been immersed in floodwater, or if you simply have other questions about safe driving, contact Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR at 618-281-2886.