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How to drive safely through flood water in Spain

Here’s what to do if you come across a flood or standing water

Winter is coming, and as summer fades into the background, the DGT in Spain usually issues a series of guidance articles on how to navigate Spain’s highways and byways in adverse conditions, and the biggest cause for concern is normally flooding.

It goes without saying that if you come across a submerged patch of road, the most sensible option is to find another route. Taking a chance and ploughing through an unknown body of water can be fatal for both the vehicle and its passengers.

But what if there’s no choice, and you have to drive through a flood? Well firstly, there’s a big difference between standing and moving water. Under no circumstances should a driver contemplate driving across a river bed or moving watercourse; it doesn’t actually take much to make a car float, and a fast-moving current, particularly in stormy weather, could spell disaster.

The general rule of thumb is that if you can’t safely walk through the body of water, you shouldn’t even think about driving through it. Just six inches of water is enough to reach the undercarriage of most passenger vehicles, which can quickly flood the exhaust and leave you stranded in the middle of deluge.

Slow and steady wins the race

If you’ve decided you can make it, your instinct might be to step on the gas and speed through the water. In fact, the best course of action is move slowly to avoid making a bow wave and prevent water splashing up into the car’s mechanics.

Drivers should put the car into first gear and rev the engine, aiming for around 2,500 revs, and proceed at a snail’s pace. Keeping the engine running at high revolutions increases the pressure at which the gases come out of the exhaust, stopping water from getting in.

Finally, avoid stalling or shutting off the engine at all costs when in the middle of flood water; if the car stops, water will flood into the exhaust and it will be impossible to start the vehicle again.

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Image: The AA

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