Steering Clear: Tips to Stay Safe While Driving During Floods

With the region's rainy season quickly approaching, Jack Scott and Robert Hensley, owners of Bellevue's 911 Driving School, provided the below tips to keep motorists safe if they find themselves in a flood situation:

• Watch the water levels: Do not drive in standing water levels above your tire or enter moving water under any circumstances. A single foot of water alone can cause your car to float.
• Find an alternate route: If you do see a flooded road, don’t attempt to drive through it. The depth of the water is not always obvious, making it extremely dangerous to enter. Try to find a way around the flooded area to avoid it altogether. This is especially important when driving at night, when it is more difficult to judge water depth.
• Be aware of your surroundings: Watch out for safety hazards in areas with standing water, such as downed electrical lines or debris. Potentially hazardous materials can be hidden by rising water levels.
• Don’t hide in your car: Your car is not a safe place to hide. If your car stalls, begins to float or gets stuck in a flooded area or flash flood, don’t wait it out in your car. Get out of your vehicle, find higher ground and call 9-1-1 to contact emergency responders.

For more information on ways to protect yourself during a flood, contact 911 Driving School at 425-957-0911 or visit http://bit.ly/2h4sTNB.