When heavy rain strikes, it can make driving a hire van very testing. Read our tips on how to drive a hire van on flooded roads now…
How to Drive a Hire Van on Flooded Roads
The AA says that a third of flood-related deaths happen in vehicles. Here are some helpful driving tips to keep you safe on flooded roads.
Drive slowly
Reducing your van’s speed while on a flooded road is important, as the tyres are more likely to lose grip when there’s water on the road surface. This can cause a loss of steering control, or aquaplaning.
If you feel this happening, reduce your speed gently and lightly hold the steering until you can feel your tyres regaining their grip.
Before you set off, test the water depth with a tape measure. You shouldn’t drive through a flooded road if the depth is more than 10cm.
Don’t make a splash
Deliberately splashing pedestrians and cyclists can lead to points on your license or a fine. You should avoid big puddles, reducing your speed to a crawl if you must go through them.
Test your brakes
After passing through a flooded road, always test your brakes afterwards –where it’s safe to do so. This helps to dry them off.
Stay in your van
If your hire van breaks down, pull over immediately and stay inside unless you break down on the hard shoulder of a motorway. If that happens, put your hazard lights on and find a safe position on the far left of the road.
Use your lights
Wipers on – Lights on! You can also use fog lights if you’re struggling to see further than 100 metres. It’s important to turn them off when visibility improves, as they can dazzle other drivers.
Don’t stop moving
Bringing your van to a halt while in deep water can allow it to get into your exhaust pipe and cause damage.
If you do have to make an unscheduled stop, keep the engine revs up to reduce the likelihood of your vehicle seizing whilst stationary.
Van Hire Warrington
For Warrington Van Hire, there is only one choice. We can offer secure on-site car parking at our Warrington town centre base and our customers can use it throughout the period of their van hire. We are situated close to the main transport networks in Warrington: the bus and train interchanges are within walking distance. For Van Hire Runcorn, Van Hire Warrington, Van Hire Widnes, Van Hire Altrincham & Van Hire St Helens contact us today to check availability.
