Tips and advice

What you can do in the face of severe weather

It is possible that you could be caught in a flood while driving. So, as part of our Zurich HelpPoint philosophy, here are some tips on what to do in that situation:

• Avoid travel if you can but if you do have to drive, please do so slowly and with caution.Only drive down a flooded road if you
• Know how deep the water is. Even if you do know the local roads well, do remember that floods can dramatically alter landscapes and can turn a familiar road into a real hazard. Remember: it only takes the amount of water in an eggcup to get into your car’s air filter and completely ruin your engine. This is particularly true of diesel and turbo-charged cars.
• If a road is closed off, don’t even attempt to drive down it.
• Always let someone know your travel plans.
• If you don’t know how deep the water is, don’t try to drive through it. About two feet of water is all it takes to float many cars.
• Drive slowly to avoid creating a wave. And keep your revs up while doing so too. Do remember that the bow-wave your car is creating could end up flooding nearby homes.
• If another car is coming towards you and creating a wave, stop and switch the engine off. Wait for the water to calm, then carry on. Engine damage caused by water is generally disastrous and may not covered by your motor insurance, so be sure to check your car policy.
• 80% of flood-related deaths occur inside a vehicle (source: Met Office, September 2008). So if your car stalls in water, do not attempt to recover it or sit out the flood. Get out and move to safer ground.
• If you can, park on higher ground.
• Keep your radio on to hear about flood warnings and so you know where all the affected areas are.
• If you think your car is in danger of rising waters, take your important documents like your V5C and your insurance details out of the car and keep them somewhere safe.
• Keep a phone charger in the car so you can top your mobile up.

For more details visit our severe weather website.