You're in a queue. You can't turn round. There's a flooded road ahead but cars are going through it

[cakeorwine]

What do you do?

This was last night in Leeds. Dual carriageway and cars were going through the flooded road.
I could have stopped - but that would have been very difficult as a lot of cars behind.

It was possible to stop on the left hand side - but no one was.

Other cars were going through - and I went through reluctantly.

But what would you do?

Wait until the car in front got through safely.

Then drive slowly through without breaking or slowing down,just a nice steady pace.

I’d have watched to see if the other cars were high or lower than mine and if they made it through. This happened to me in the US on holiday so was very mindful of the hire car. Luckily people got through with smaller cars than me so I was confident it would be ok and it was.

Tricky. If I saw a car similar to mine (fairly low slung, def not 4x4) get through successfully I’d probably give it a go.

If they all looked like raised vehicles though I’d be much more nervous and probably pull over to the left. And then phone DH for advice 😳 (I know I know).

If cars were going through, I would've risked it. It's a horrible feeling though, being forced to risk it like that. My car is a lot lower than the SUV types, but I've been OK so far.

That's what I did

A 4x4 with a trailer decided to cut me up and then race through. Didn't appreciate my nervousness.

Leeds was very busy last night

A64?

Yeah last time I was in that situation my car packed in in the middle of the flood. I sat there in foot deep water watching other cars go past me! In my new car I’d had a week. Dh was not impressed 🙈😆. I realised slightly too late i wasn’t sure how to keep the revs up in an automatic which i wasn’t used to!

That was the 2nd one.

I could have pulled in by the Red Bus cafe for a bit!!!

We're you on the Ring Road @cakeorwine?

Going towards Lawnswood or towards Meanwood?

It would depend on how well the other cars were getting on. I wouldn't enter the water until the previous car was through it and I wouldn't try to go through if I was driving a low slung car where the exhaust pipe might get filled with water.

If cars are getting through OK then I’d do the same.

Meanwood

It looked like a car on the other side had got stuck

And no doubt using speed so they soaked your car with their waves!

It was awful! I was going your way and went through the water so nervously. The only thing that made me feel better was that cars smaller and lower than me were getting through and luckily nobody was driving like a that and we were all going slowly.

As for traffic the other way... they could not have got through that, it was so deep! I wonder how long they were all stuck there? 😬

Yes. To be honest I think it was a van going too fast in the opposite direction which did for me in the first place. I know about going steady and having a bow wave but someone was ploughing through too fast and I was hit with a wave of water and the car died.

I would have absolutely hated this! I always turn around to avoid flood water even if means a massive detour. But on a dual carriageway what are the options really. Pull over on the hard shoulder if there is one and wait... for how long!

What a twat of a driver.

I had this situation a number of times a good few years ago. I had a little old car that didn't like anything more than a puddle.
If the engine was cold i.e. within a couple of miles of setting off, I would stop. I don't care who was behind me, I'd hold them up more if I got stranded. If the underwater bit was more than a few yards, I would also stop for the same reason as above.
If the engine was warm and (slow) momentum going in and the distance was only a few yards, then yes I would go through, slowly and carefully. Out the other side I would stop as soon as safe and allow the warm engine to dry everything out.

Edit .. Modern cars probably better, but engine warmth will still make a difference. This was in the 1980s

If I had a tractor I would drive through really fast and then claim I was in a hurry to help a sick child or an injured hedgehog, should any miserable bugger complain.

Would never risk it after those people died when their car flooded in this type of situation and they couldn't open the doors and drowned.

A friend did this, made it through but there was damage to the car that needed repairs afterwards apparently.