Road Safety message from your local Safer Neighbourhood Team:

As we approach the end of the year, weather at times in most parts of the UK will inevitably be rain, with the odd outbreak of… rain.

We have and continue to suffer from the large deluge of rain that has fallen and due to continue throughout the autumn and winter. With the land being saturated, this led to large amounts of surface water running off fields and other areas of land to create flash flooding on a number of roads within the West Mercia area. We have also in the past experienced flooding from rivers, streams, fords and brooks which subsequently caused traffic issues (including routes being closed previously).

To help stay safe we encourage you to check your route before you leave. Some online sites give real-time information on road conditions, closures, and diversions which can help you plan your journey, however, please be mindful that some of these sites may not be fully updated.

We would also like to remind you that we would not encourage anyone to walk, ride or drive through any flood water due to various dangers and to never move any signs or barriers that are there to inform road users that the road is closed.

Walking into deep water

DON’T DO IT.

·       If unavoidable, be aware that drains and manhole covers may not be in position anymore, test the depth of the next step before           committing.

·       NEVER enter a culvert (a tunnel way typically under a raised road), they can drop suddenly and can end in a grilled dead end.

Driving into deep water

DON’T DO IT.

·       Just because the car you are driving is a 4x4 does not necessarily mean it is suited to deep water.

·       Do not drive into a flood at all if it is not obvious where the road is.

·       Most roads that are flooded by rivers will still have a strong flow and undercurrent and can easily sweep anyone off their feet.

·       Between 30 to 60cm’s of flowing water is enough to sweep away most vehicles, including large four-wheel drive cars.

·       Do you know where the air intake of the vehicle is?

·       If this intake ingests too much water it will drown the engine causing it to immediately stop.

·       Astra's and BMW's have particularly low air intakes.

·       Driving into water will cause a bow wave, this will cause extensive damage to dwelling or commercial properties in or at the edge         of the flood water, the driver of the vehicle will be liable for the damage caused and will not be able to claim this off their vehicles         insurance as most insurance policies are invalidated if you drive through flood water.

In previous years, emergency services have been called out to a number of incidents where members of the public have driven into flood water on various roads, this has caused their vehicles to break down in very precarious positions and for them being rescued, unfortunately this can lead to fatalities. Remember the saying BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

Please remember that if you do drive into flood water your insurance will be invalidated and where vehicles are left until the flood water has resided, they can be removed by the police if they are causing an obstruction, this cost will then be passed on to the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Please abide by the advice within this message and never walk, ride or drive into any floodwater.