Breakdown cover specialist GEM Motoring Assist has urged drivers to take care during the current period of wet weather.
The advice follows the issue of yellow Met. Office rain and wind warnings for parts of southern and eastern Britain, where some places could see a month’s worth of rain in less than 24 hours.
A total of 31 flood alerts have been issued across England, which will lead to poor driving conditions and delays.
GEM road safety officer Neil Worth commented: “The ground is saturated, while many rivers and waterways are already full to the brim. With rain, sleet and even some snow expected across southern parts today, we are warning drivers to be ready for disruption to their journeys, and to check their routes before setting out.
“Expect the unexpected during these conditions. Floods will occur not only because rivers burst their banks, but because surface water is unable to drain away from roads or because water runs off fields and ditches overflow onto roads. So take it easy, and put safety first.”
GEM recently produced a short video with simple advice for drivers on staying safe on wet and flooded roads. The main message from the video is for drivers to postpone journeys and not to go attempt to drive through floods. But for those who get caught, there are tips on maximum depths of water to drive through, paying heed to flood warnings and road blocks, how to reduce the risk of stalling and what to do if you do stall in a flood.
