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Yahoo! Singapore user @rincui posts a photo of the
flood in Bishan over Twitter. (Photo courtesy of @rincui)
Floods have
become the driver's newest nightmare in this region as tropical
rains mercilessly descend on our roads and cause all kinds of
damage.
Lately, a string of flash floods have
plagued the roads of Singapore so be careful when you
are heading out under an overcast sky. If possible, leave the car
at home and use public transport instead of driving out in times of
heavy rain.
To be safe, tune into local radio stations, TV channels or
online platforms to check for any breaking news reports about
flooded areas.
There are some areas in Singapore that are prone to flooding,
such as Bukit
Timah, Upper Thomson, Telok Kurau and Orchard Road, so
if it is raining and your journey includes those areas, you just
might want to re-route.
Should you already be out and it starts to rain, it is advisable
to leave your car parked and come back for it after the rain has
cleared. Of course, do make sure that your car is parked on higher
grounds and not in a basement car park susceptible to flooding.
The dangerous thing about floods is how you are never sure of
how deep it is and you run the risk of getting your car swept away
if the water level is high enough. A mere six inches of water from
the ground is enough to reach the bottom of your car and cause you
to lose control or even stall the car. Also, it just takes a foot
of water (about 30cm) to send your car floating and any more water
can sweep your vehicle away.
Here are some tips to help you deal with a flood situation:
1. If you are able to avoid driving through a flood, quickly
back up and take an alternative route.
2. If your car is surrounded by floodwater, abandon the car
quickly and move immediately to higher ground.
3. If the only way out is to drive through the flood, then drive
slowly (about 20km/h) at a constant speed through the standing
water and keep the engine revving, as water could get into the
exhaust or into your air intake. Shift into the lowest gear for
manual cars.
4. If water does get into your engine, do not try to restart
your car.
5. Do not panic and think that driving fast through the standing
water would get you out of there quick. Driving fast in a flood
could cause your tyres to lose contact with the ground and send
your car into a situation called aquaplaning.
6. If you do experience aquaplaning, hold the steering wheel
lightly and lift off the accelerator until the tyres regain
grip.
7. Do not drive through flooded roads against opposite traffic.
If you have to, wait for approaching cars to clear before you start
to drive through.
8. After successfully driving through the flood, test your
brakes thoroughly — first by pressing slowly on the brake pedal
until you are sure it is working, then keep your hand firm on the
steering wheel as you step on the brake repeatedly a few more times
to dry them.
