What to Do When Driving Through Waterlogged Roads
2 Answers
For manual transmission vehicles, keep the gear in first, maintain steady throttle without lifting off the pedal or depressing the clutch, and pass through the waterlogged road at a low, steady speed. For vehicles with manual mode simulation, switch to manual mode, keep the gear in first, maintain steady throttle, and pass through the waterlogged road at a low, steady speed. For vehicles without manual mode, if equipped with a low gear, use it; otherwise, maintain a longer following distance from the vehicle ahead.
I still remember the first time I encountered a flooded road and almost had an accident. Now I've learned from experience: when facing standing water, you must slow down and keep your speed below 20km/h, otherwise the water surge could splash back and submerge the engine air intake, causing stalling. Before entering deep water, I always check the water depth: see if the water reaches halfway up the wheel hub. If it's over 15cm, I'll either detour or wait for the water level to recede. Maintain a steady speed while driving through, avoid sudden acceleration or braking to prevent losing control - keeping good tire traction is crucial. Turn on both wipers and lights to improve visibility. There might be potholes hidden underwater that could scrape the undercarriage and damage components - not worth the risk. If the car stalls, I immediately cut power, turn off the fan, open windows, and safely move to the roadside to call a tow truck, avoiding secondary ignition that could destroy the engine. Regularly, I check tire wear and undercarriage protection plates to ensure safe rainy season driving that protects both my beloved car and myself.
