BY PETER KARANJA
The rains are here – which is why as a driver you need to be very cautious when driving through swollen waters on the roads.
The recent River Enzau tragedy that saw 23 people drown on December 4, 2021, after a bus they were traveling in was swept away by raging waters has brought into sharp focus driving skills of most drivers when faced with swollen waters.
One thing is clear – it’s not advisable to drive on flooded roadways or bridges even when you’re in the middle of a trip and you need to get to your destination.
The first thing you should do when you encounter floodwaters, swollen rivers on the road is to simply turn around – or wait in safe spot until the waters recede.
This is a bad idea
It’s a bad idea to try to drive through water – especially if you are not sure just how deep and strong the waters are.
Rushing water can hide dips and debris or sections of roads or bridges that have been completely washed away by boulders or just sheer force of water.
It’s worse if it’s a road you are not familiar with.
Remember that six inches of water is just enough to flood the exhaust of your can and leave you immobile.
The rule of thumb is that if you cannot walk through water (especially moving water), do not try to drive across it.
This is because most vehicles easily float when inside water – which means you car can easily topple.
However, should you find yourself caught up in the middle of the waters – unexpectedly – then there are a few things you should consider doing.
Here are the 6 tips you should keep in mind:
1. Do not drive through moving water if you can avoid it.
2. If you must drive, try to drive down the center. The water tends to be most shallow at the center of the road.
3. Only cross when the water is very shallow. Note that 15cm of water can cause a vehicle to lose control at any speed. Do not attempt to cross water that goes above the center of your wheels.
4. Drive slowly to avoid engine flooding.
5. Drive in low gear as it protects the car. If its an automatic car, keep the speed low enough to stay in first or second gear. Keep your foot on the gas and use the brake to regulate speed.
6. Dry the brakes once you have crossed by braking lightly while driving very slowly to avoid spinning on the road.