Why is it dangerous to drive in floodwater and what should you do?

• A. Drive slowly through shallow water.
• B. Turn around and go another way.
• C. It can stall or sweep you away; turn around and find higher ground.
• D. There is no danger if you stay in your lane.

Answer: (C)

Floodwater is dangerous because moving water can overpower a vehicle, stall the engine, or push the car off the road, and the surface beneath can be washed out or hidden by debris, making the situation hard to judge. Because depth and current can be deceptive, the safest action is to turn around and find higher ground rather than attempting to drive through floodwaters. Driving slowly through water or staying in your lane might seem tempting, but they can still lead to trouble since water can be deeper or stronger than it looks and roads can be compromised. In short, don’t enter floodwater—turn around and seek higher ground.