Indiana Serious Injury Attorney Offer Safety Tips on Driving Flooded Streets and Highways
The lawyers of Young and Young are your Indiana Serious Injury Lawyers. We monitor issues relevant to the safe use of automobiles and roads in Indiana. On February 27-28, 2011, the Indianapolis metropolitan area received more than two and a half inches of rain in less than six hours. At that rate, the ground cannot absorb the water quick enough to prevent flooding, At that rate the sewer system cannot drain away the water fast enough to prevent flooding. As a result, small retainage ponds, small, normally dry, drains, creeks and rivers over flow. The water flows out onto low lying ground. This ground may include roads. Flood waters are extremely hazardous on roads. The water may look shallow or as if it is moving very slowly, but looks can be deceiving. Moving water holds a huge amount of energy. This energy can easily pick up, move and even overturn cars and trucks. Many people die annually because of poor judgment when dealing with flood waters and roads.
Some tips for keeping yourself safe with flood waters. If it has been raining hard, slow your vehicle to a pace where you can stop instantly. That flooded road may just be around the next corner. If you encounter a flooded road, do not drive onto the flooded road. As we have said before, moving water can fool you and once your car is being swept away it might be too late. If you absolutely must drive through, do so only if you know the roads contours and are absolutely sure the amount of water on the road is very shallow. A road may look like it is covered by only a small amount of water, but if you do not know the road well, it might dip to an even lower spot and overwhelm your car. Drive slowly. Water under your tires causes a loss of contact between the tire and the road. This loss of contact reduces friction and thus allows for loss of control of the car.
When driving on highways, watch out for standing water on the road. Hitting standing water on the road can cause loss of control and cause the car to leave the road or cross the center line. Always be prepared for the car next to you to cause water to be thrown up onto your windshield. These kinds of events can both scare the heck out of you, causing you to lose control and it will cause you to lose sight of the road and may cause you to leave the road. Always make sure the tread on your tires are adequate to channel the maximum amount of water from under your tires. If you have any concerns at all consult your tire professional for advice. Balding tires cannot deal with water well and may lead to a loss of control.
Spring is on its way and we want you and your family to be safe and enjoy the beauty that is Indiana in the Spring. God Bless.