Almost three in four motorists would risk driving through floor water even though their car could be swept away, a new survey claims.
In the AA poll of nearly 18,000 drivers, 74 per cent of respondents said they’d go for it, while 22 per cent of men and 29 per cent of woman said they’d find an alternative route.
The Environment Agency, as well as the breakdown service provider, claim that during flooding, the most common cause of death is driving through flood water.
The two firms are warning motorists that less than 1ft (30cm) of moving water is enough to float a car. This can lead to getting stranded or needing to be rescued in the event the vehicle’s engine takes in water and stops working.
Caroline Douglass, director of incident management and resilience at the Environment Agency, said: “It is concerning that so many drivers are willing to risk their own life and the lives of others by driving through flood water.”
Douglass is advising motorists to ‘never drive through flood water’ as it is often deeper than it looks, adding that drivers should ‘turn around and find another route’.
Ben Sheriden, AA patrol of the year, shares this viewpoint. He said: “Don’t chance it if the road ahead is flooded. Flood water can be deceptively deep and can hide other hazards in the road which can leave you stranded.”
