What can driving through water cause?

Driving through water can be extremely dangerous and potentially cause severe damage to your vehicle. There are many risks associated with driving through flooded streets or crossing overflowing streams. It’s important to understand the dangers so you can avoid driving through water whenever possible.

Can I drive through standing water on the road?

Standing water on the roadway presents a significant hazard. Just six inches of moving water can knock an adult over, and one foot of water will carry most vehicles away. Even slow-moving water can wash your car off the road or cause you to lose control.

The biggest risk when driving through standing water is hydroplaning. This happens when your tires lose contact with the road and ride up on the water. The result is loss of traction, steering, and braking control. Your vehicle can go into an uncontrollable skid at any moment.

Other dangers include:

• Water getting sucked into your engine air intake and causing stalling
• Electrical shorts and system failures as water penetrates your vehicle
• Floating debris that can scratch paint, crack glass, or damage undercarriage components

Unless you’re certain the standing water is just a few inches deep, you should always turn around and find an alternate route. Driving through unknown depths of water is never worth the risk.

What are the dangers of crossing a flooded stream?

Trying to cross a flooded stream in your vehicle is extremely perilous. Fast moving floodwaters can sweep away cars, SUVs and trucks in an instant, often with tragic consequences.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over half of all flood-related drownings occur when vehicles are driven into hazardous floodwaters. Many of these accidents happen at night or when visibility is poor.

6 factors that make crossing a flooded stream so dangerous include:

Factor	Risk
Depth perception	It’s impossible to accurately judge the depth of floodwaters at night or when visibility is compromised. Vehicles can be swept away in just 18-24 inches of moving water.
Undermined roads	Floodwaters often erode the underlying road base creating enormous unseen holes and gaps under the road’s surface.
Debris	Fast moving water carries all kinds of debris that can puncture tires, break axles or become lodged under vehicles.
Currents	The currents created by flooding are often unpredictable and can push vehicles off roads and bridges with tremendous force.
Drop offs	Flooded roads frequently have severely eroded sections or complete drop-offs that are concealed by water.
Hydraulics	The hydraulic force of moving water can sweep away vehicles and push them into deeper flooded areas.

These factors make trying to cross flooded streams an unacceptable hazard in a vehicle. Always use extreme caution and avoid crossing flooded roads and streams whenever possible.

Can I drive through flooded urban streets?

Driving through flooded urban streets puts you and your vehicle at great risk. As little as six inches of moving water can sweep away most cars. And just because you can see pavement or the lines on the road, does not mean the street is safe to drive through.

Hazards of driving through flooded city streets include:

• Deep water – Curbs, medians and other structures obscure actual water depth.
• Swift currents – Narrow streets, alleyways and other constrictions can speed up water flow.
• Open manholes – Flood waters can move manhole covers and create dangerous openings.
• Electrocution – Live wires from utility poles, street lights and traffic signals can energize water.
• Trapped vehicles – Other stalled and abandoned cars block right of ways.
• Undetectable hazards – Trash, debris and dissolved road surfaces hide potential problems.

If you come across a flooded urban street, it’s best to turn around. The risks far outweigh any time potentially saved by forging ahead. Be smart and plan alternate routes to avoid driving through flood waters.

What kind of damage can driving through water cause?

The mechanical damage that can occur when driving through water is significant. The repair costs can easily total thousands of dollars and may even exceed your vehicle’s value.

Here are 5 common types of damage that can result from driving through water:

1. Flooded engine

One of the most severe damages is getting water sucked into your engine air intake. This can cause catastrophic failure as water gets drawn into engine cylinders. Bent connecting rods, damaged pistons and bearings, and hydrostatic locks can occur. Repairs often require a full engine overhaul or replacement.

2. Damaged transmission

Automatic transmissions have breather tubes that can suck in water when submerged. This leads to internal corrosion, gear wear, and breakdown of transmission fluids. Manual transmissions can suffer similar fates if immersed. Rebuilding or replacing damaged transmissions is very costly.

3. Electrical shorts

As water seeps into your vehicle, electrical shorts and system failures frequently occur. Critical components like your ECU, sensors, ignition system, and fuse boxes can all be damaged. This leads to stalling, warning lights, non-starting conditions, and the need for costly electrical repairs.

4. Ruined brakes

Wet brakes immediately start to corrode and lose stopping power. The pads and rotors can become completely compromised after being submerged. Expect to have your brakes cleaned, dried and inspected after exposure to water. In severe cases, total brake failure can happen.

5. Contaminated fluids

Oil, transmission, brake and power steering fluids all get contaminated when mixed with water. The life of these vital fluids gets shortened considerably. Contaminated differential and transfer case oils also need to be flushed and replaced after water exposure.

Addressing any of these common types of flood damage is not cheap. Total vehicle losses also frequently happen if repairs exceed the car’s worth. Avoid driving through high water at all costs.

What steps should you take if your car floods?

If you’ve made the mistake of driving through deep water and your vehicle has become flooded, follow these crucial steps:

1. Get to safety – Your first priority is to get yourself and any passengers to dry ground out of harms way.
2. Call for help – If your car stalls or you become stranded in flowing water, call 911 immediately.
3. Exit the car – If water is entering the cabin, unbuckle your seatbelt and safely exit the vehicle.
4. Avoid hazards – Never attempt to push or drive your flooded car out of standing water.
5. Get it towed – Have your car towed to prevent further damage from trying to start or drive it.
6. Dry it thoroughly – Remove seats and carpeting to allow interior to completely air dry to prevent mold.
7. Inspect fluids – Check oil, transmission and other fluid levels and have them changed if contaminated.
8. Address damage – Take your car to a trusted mechanic and repair all water-related failure and corrosion issues.

Following these steps can help minimize further damage. But the most important rule is to avoid driving through high water in the first place whenever you can.

What cars are best for driving through water?

No standard passenger vehicle is truly safe for driving through deep water. But some vehicles are more capable than others if you face a scenario where you have no choice but to traverse standing water or a flooded roadway.

Here are 5 vehicles that offer the best potential for safely driving through water:

1. Trucks with high ground clearance

Pickup trucks, especially those with lifted suspensions, often have enough ground clearance to drive through water up to 2 feet deep before major components get submerged. Just beware of current strength and watch for washouts.

2. SUVs with sealed lower body panels

SUVs with dimensions and clearances similar to pickup trucks provide an enclosed cabin for protection. Look for ones with sealed lower panels to keep water out of the engine and mechanical components.

3. Jeeps with snorkels

An aftermarket snorkel attachment on a Jeep Wrangler or similar vehicle raises the air intake above roof level. This allows the engine to breathe even when the body is partially submerged. Caution is still required.

4. Commercial trucks

Heavy duty trucks with high air intakes are used for deliveries through flooded areas. Fire trucks and military transport vehicles also have water traversal capabilities. But these require special operator training.

5. Tracked amphibious vehicles

Purpose-built amphibious vehicles with tracks instead of tires, waterproof hulls and sealed components can safely navigate through fairly deep water. But these expensive specialty vehicles are not accessible to most consumers.

When faced with the decision to drive through high water, none of these vehicles provide a guarantee of safety. Avoid entering flooded areas at all costs if possible.

Conclusion

Driving through water puts you, your passengers and your vehicle at serious risk. Standing water, flooded streams, and urban flooding hide countless unseen hazards and should be avoided. If you’ve made the mistake of driving into high water, get to safety immediately and have your car towed and inspected. Remember, no standard passenger car is truly safe for traversing deep water or flood conditions. When in doubt, turn around, don’t drown!