BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Components of Birmingham skilled significant flooding Wednesday afternoon, and a few drivers acquired caught of their vehicles and wanted to be rescued.
That’s why an area UAB knowledgeable is providing recommendation to maintain you secure.
Dr. Benjamin McManus with UAB’s TRIP Lab stated having a plan in place earlier than you get behind the wheel is all the time necessary, however much more so when the roads are moist.
He stated hydroplaning is an enormous concern when there’s even a little bit little bit of water on the roads and recommends reducing your pace.
He stated hydroplaning can begin as speeds as low at 35 miles per hour, and the quicker you’re driving, the much less water it takes to trigger an accident.
Flash flooding can also be a serious concern.
Water rose very quickly in parts of Birmingham Wednesday, and it doesn’t take a lot to brush a automobile off the highway.
Dr. McManus stated it solely takes a few foot of water to start floating most vehicles, and with two ft of water, that’s sufficient to hold an SUV away.
He stated if you happen to’re ever questioning how deep the water in entrance of you is likely to be, flip round, don’t drown.
“Perspective out of your driver’s seat is commonly additionally going to skew how a lot water you’re in a position to estimate is sitting there on the highway. So, it’s laborious to inform that that’s 12 inches of water. If it appears deep, you definitely wish to keep away from it. After we drive, we should always all the time be undistracted, but it surely’s particularly, critically necessary to be undistracted whilst you’re driving in such circumstances. Your response time shall be slower when the roads are moist and when visibility is lowered,” Dr. McManus defined.
Dr. McManus stated it’s greatest to keep away from driving altogether throughout wet climate, however if you happen to have to be on the roads, he recommends planning forward by watching the information to see what roads is likely to be closed, or the place flooding is likely to be occurring, and in addition driving slowly.
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