Driving in heavy rain

Road safety charity The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is offering motorists advice on driving in heavy rain, following continued Met Office warnings of torrential downpours.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: "A suddenly very wet road surface increases the chances of slipping when braking or steering, which is a problem not just for motorists, but cyclists and motorcyclists too.

A car drives through flood water in the village of Ladybank, Fife, Scotland, following torrential rain. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 13, 2008. A clear-up operation was under way today after torrential rain led to heavy flooding in parts of the country. Emergency services worked through the night to pump water from roads and homes in Fife. See PA story SCOTLAND Rain. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
A car drives through flood water on the A167 in Newcastle, where heavy rain has closed the southbound side carriageway. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday September 6, 2008. Phil Rothwell, head of flood risk management at the Environment Agency, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Flood levels and river levels in the south-west of England and hopefully south Wales appear to be receding now, although more rain is forecast in south Wales in the catchments affected yesterday. See PA story WEATHER Storms. Photo credit should read: Scott Heppell/PA Wire
drop your speed: When driving in wet conditions, remember stopping distances will increase

"When driving in wet conditions, remember stopping distances will increase, and visibility will be reduced.

"Drop your speed and give yourself more time to slow down."

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In cases of severe flooding, you should reconsider making the journey at all. If it is unavoidable, and you have to drive through deep water, the IAM recommends drivers take the following precautions:

Drive on the highest section of the road and don't set off if a vehicle is approaching you.

Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars and pedestrians.

Drive slowly and keep going once you have started – make sure you have a clear run. In a manual car, keep the revs high by "slipping the clutch" (which means the clutch is not fully engaged) all the time you are in the water.

If you can't see where you are going to come out of the water, such as when approaching flooding on a bend, think twice about starting to drive into it.

In deep water, never take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe.

Once you are out of the water, dry the brakes before you need them. The best way is to lightly apply the brake as you drive along for a few seconds, after checking nothing is following you too closely.

To help drivers stay safe and enjoy their driving this summer, the IAM has a new website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with traffic updates, weather forecasts, and driving tips.