How to drive through floods While many cars will get through quite severe floods, there are a number of dangers. Apart from shorted-out electrics on petrol cars, there is also a risk of the engine sucking in water which, being incompressible, will cause it to lock solid (hydraulic lock), smashing connecting rods, pistons, even crankshafts. If the water is fast-moving, there is also a risk that the car could be carried off into deeper flood water with you inside. Avoid going too fast into even quite shallow puddles as that can lead to aquaplaning, where the tyres will no longer steer the car and you lose control. It is also inconsiderate and illegal to soak pedestrians. When you emerge from the water, dry the brakes by using them gently, and if there were leaves in the water, check the radiator matrix for blockages. Another thing to watch out for is the lunatics coming the other way. You might be observing all the best advice, but giant 4x4s or trucks racing though in the opposite direction can create such bow waves they drown your car. If the worst happens and your car stops, leave the bonnet closed to avoid any further water ingress, climb out, lock the car and wade to dry land. In direst emergencies, you could try winding the car out by operating the starter in first or reverse gear but few starter motors will stand that sort of punishment so don't rely on it. More than half (54%) of UK drivers would endanger themselves and their vehicles by driving through moving flood water, according to a joint Environment Agency and AA survey in October/November 2013. The research of 21,165 AA members also revealed that more than a quarter (27%) of respondents would drive through moving flood water deeper than 30cm, which is enough to move a car. The Environment Agency and the AA strongly advise not entering flood water that is moving or more than 10cm deep. According to the AA, a third of flood-related deaths involve a vehicle because drivers take unnecessary risks. Last year, the second wettest on record in the UK, claimed the lives of several motorists. In the same period, the AA rescued almost 9,000 vehicles that had driven through or were stuck in flood water, with an estimated insurance bill of more than £34 million.