You have just gone through deep water. To dry off the brakes you should _________.

Related Information

Floods occur often in the United Kingdom, sometimes locally and occasionally across large areas. Flooding can be difficult to spot (especially at night), or you may assume you're driving through a small puddle that suddenly turns deep.

What happens when you drive into a flood or deep water?

When travelling at high speeds, the tyres will first aquaplane (ride on top of the water), but will quickly sink in and the underside of the car will generate massive drag, slowing you down. If this occurs on only one side of your car, for example, if two of your wheels travel through the deep water, your vehicle will be dragged in that direction.

Because water does not compress like air, the speed can induce water into the engine, where it can short out the electrical system and, if it gets into the cylinders, bend or break a con rod.

How to cross a flooded section of road

It is best to watch another vehicle finish the crossing before doing it yourself, observing how deep the water is to ensure that your car will be able to get over.


If there are no other cars nearby, you can walk through the flood and measure the depth with a stick. If the water is flowing strongly, avoid entering it since it might sweep you away. A foot of water may sweep your feet out from under you.


In certain circumstances, the water will wash away the road - do you know there is a road there?

Once you're certain that you can make it through the deep water, approach it slowly - 2-3mph - while keeping the rpm high to prevent water from flowing up the exhaust pipe.

Maintain a steady speed. This means increasing the vehicle's power to overcome the water resistance. Try not to get stuck since it will be more hard to start moving again.

Roads are usually higher in the centre, sometimes by up to 10cm, which may make a big difference, therefore drive through the middle to make the water less deep.

Allow just one car to pass at a time. If you break down, another car can assist in towing you out; but, if you stop and another vehicle is directly behind you, it may be hard for it to reverse out.

After driving through deep water, check your brakes to ensure they are working properly. You may need to drive a short distance with your brakes applied to dry them out.