Flooded roads can be incredibly dangerous to drive on, especially if you are traveling through an unfamiliar area. You can quickly lose control after hitting a large puddle, your car can potentially be swept away by the water pressure, or the car engine can suck in water, causing it to stall.
Knowing why roads flood can help you predict whether you might encounter such a situation on your journey and be better prepared if you do.
The most common causes of flooded roads include weather conditions such as storms and heavy rains, poorly maintained drainage systems, and to some extent, faulty road designs. Streets flood when the amount of water arriving on the road exceeds the drainage capacity of facilities that take it away.
If you know the potential cause of road flooding, you can be better prepared to respond to the situation if it arises during your journey. Safety is of utmost importance while traveling, and this knowledge can keep you and your loved ones safe on flooded roads. Let’s dig deep and understand the most important reasons behind flooded roads.
How do inclement weather events cause roads to flood?
One of the most common reasons for flooded roads is weather events involving precipitation. Heavy rains or storms can cause flash floods that send much more gallons of water on roadways than the drainage system can handle. The sudden arrival of this water can cause the roads to flood.
Flooding due to inclement weather conditions can be hazardous in the following two cases-
- If the floodwater is flowing with much force, and
- If the high-velocity winds are blowing across the roads
In both these conditions, there is a good chance that you might lose control of your vehicle and be swept away from your course. Heavy rains and storms often cause vehicles to tip over, resulting in hundreds of mishaps throughout the country.
Another reason for flooded roads, especially during the early spring in some areas of the country, is the sudden melting of the accumulated snow.
Regions in the Mid-West are more susceptible to flash flooding after a sudden rise in temperature during the spring season. The melting snow can overflow the rivers and dams, waterlogging roads.
Driving on partially or entirely submerged roads in floodwater can be dangerous. Water on roadways can cause a significant reduction in friction between the tires and the road surface. Hence, applying breaks without the vehicle skidding out of control on flooded roads can become challenging.
The best thing to do in a situation like this is to try and avoid flooded roads altogether. You should try turning back, and if that is not an option, get on high grounds and wait for the weather event to pass. It is not advisable to drive your vehicle through a flooded road, especially if it is a highway and you and unfamiliar with the terrain.
Travel Tip: If planning a long trip on the Pan-American Road, it is wise to check for hazardous weather conditions before embarking on the journey. It would be better to avoid routes with flooded roads. If you encounter a flooded road, it is better to turn around rather than take the risk.
Can poorly maintained drainage systems cause flooded roads?
Most modern roads contain a robust drainage system that can drain off the excess water from the body of the road. A lack of maintenance can cause these drainage systems to block or malfunction. If the drainage system is not working correctly, water will accumulate on the road, causing flooding.
In most of the roads across the country, the drainage system can consist of the following-
- Cut-off drains (protect the road from uphill runoff)
- Side drains (channel the water along the length of the road)
- Pipes, bridges, and culverts (take the water across the road body)
- Mitered drains (divert water to land along the road)
Blockage in one or multiple drainage systems can cause the road to flood. When a weather event such as rain brings more water than the drainage system can handle, the streets tend to flood.
It’s essential to consider the drainage management on most roads in the United States is seasonal, meaning the drainage systems are cleaned and serviced during the winter and spring because the risk of flooding is the highest during these months.
However, it might take time for the authorities to get to all roads, resulting in unexpected flooding and road blockages.
More frequent and intense precipitation events
Most roads in the United States are designed to handle ‘normal’ weather events; still, flooding is becoming standard on our streets. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the rainfall and storm events have intensified over the last ten years. Consequently, many roads cannot handle the excess water levels and tend to be flooded.
Travel Tip: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a flood map service center that is updated in real-time, showing flood hazard information. If traveling on a long road trip, you should visit the FEMA MSC to understand the flood risk better.
How does road design lead to flooding?
Although roads are designed with many calculations and considerations, mistakes happen. If the streets have a faulty design, there is a possibility that the water on the roads might not be able to drain, causing puddles to form.
Engineers design most street storm sewer systems to withstand a 10-year, 24-hour storm event. A storm like this brings in 4 inches of rain in a 24-hour duration, and these storms have a 10% chance of happening in any given year.
If the storm is more significant than the drainage system can handle, it will result in waterlogged streets. A poorly designed road with narrow drainage pipes and a smaller number of inlets than required can lead to frequent flooding, even in a minor weather event.
Slopes of the roads are also crucial to prevent flooding. A road that is not adequately banked might encourage puddles, creating a complex driving environment. There is not much you can do if the road is designed poorly; the best thing is to try and avoid them altogether.
Travel Tip: Stay away from dirt and unsurfaced roads if traveling through flooded areas. Country roads tend to be slicker when wet and can create a mess when driving through them. It is better to have a 4X4 truck than an SUV.
How to be safe on a flooded road?
The first rule of being safe on a flooded road is to avoid it altogether. If you encounter a flooded road on your road trip, the best recourse is not to take the risk and wait for the water to recede before going forward. Alternatively, you can find a detour and take a route that is not flooded.
However, if the weather suddenly becomes extreme, you might have to drive through the water before safely getting off the road. It’s essential to stay safe during such an event and exercise caution. Here are a few tips that might help you traverse a flooded road more safely.
1. Slow down
The first and most important thing to keep in mind while tackling a flooded road is to slow down the speed of your vehicle.
The tires of a speeding car can quickly lose contact with the road due to the floodwater, and you might lose control of the steering. If you feel you are losing control of your steering wheel due to water (aquaplaning), slow down your vehicle gradually.
If you encounter a flooded road, enter at 1-2 miles an hour and then drive at a speed of fewer than 5 miles per hour.
2. Drive down the middle
The center of the road has the shallowest floodwater accumulation.
- If possible, avoid driving near the curb and take the centermost lane.
- If the water level rises above the middle of your tires, it’s not safe to continue.
- If your car stalls in the middle of the road, get out of the car immediately.
You might have to break the window to get out if the battery shorts. Use the backrest of your seat to break through the glass and get out.
3. Drive behind a vehicle, taking turns
It is much safer to drive behind a vehicle on a flooded road than to try and overtake. The car in front of your vehicle will help move the water out of the way so you can get more traction on the road.
4. Keep the engine revving
If you must drive through shallow floodwater, ensure that you are revving the engine while maintaining a slow speed. Drive on the lowest possible gear and control the speed using breaks if you are driving an automatic. Revving the engine will prevent the floodwater from entering your engine and stalling it.
To Conclude
Roads flood for multiple reasons. Whether it is a weather event, a malfunctioning drainage system, or anything else, driving your vehicle through a flooded road is never safe. It is easy to lose control of your car on wet, flooded streets, and if the water finds its way into your engine, you risk causing extensive damage.
