Sustainability First: Safety Tips for Driving In Floods

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – If possible, you should avoid driving if there’s flooding, but if you find yourself driving through floodwaters and praying your car is somehow amphibious, here are some tips to prevent your car from breaking down due to flooding.

Don’t use the discomfort of driving in the storm as an excuse to speed. Low visibility and wet roads already increase risks on the road, and if you’re driving through a deeper area, high speeds may actually cause water to be sucked into important parts of your car. 

Do your best to keep the car running at a steady speed, but low enough to stay in first gear. Revving your engine may help to prevent water from entering your car.

If possible and safe, don’t stop your car if you’re in the middle of a flooded road, especially if the water is deeper than six inches.

It’s regarded as relatively safe to drive through waters lower than six inches, probably halfway up your tires, but if you drive through significant flooding, you should probably have a check-in with your mechanic to make sure your car hasn’t been damaged.

Urban flooding is typically caused when a city’s landscape and infrastructure cause waters to be suddenly dumped on it by something like heavy rainfall or a storm surge and paving or inadequate drainage prevents it from being able to be absorbed quickly enough.

Wetlands naturally protect the areas surrounding them from flooding, but as much of New Providence has been developed on top of them, the problem persists.

Being more mindful of leaving green spaces or creating new ones could help to mitigate future flooding issues.