Guardrails in Flooding Events

Recently we’ve seen extremely heavy rainfall in Australia, specifically for NSW and Victoria regions.

As the leading specialists in guardrails and fence protection for roads and pedestrians, we know how important it is to stay safe on the roads, and that’s what our guardrails and fencing options are there for! But in mass rain and flood events, sometimes guardrails may not be enough to protect your vehicle or passengers. 

Did you know that it takes only 15cm of water to float a small car? 

It means that just because a road may have protective guardrails, it does not ensure that the road underneath the flood water is in good condition for driving.    

We recommend sticking to the advice from the government and protective services in your area, and steering clear from attempting to drive through dangerous zones. 

Driving on flooded roads is always a risky option, and it doesn’t take much for your car to become unstable, lose traction or wash away. 

Here are tips from the SES on how to prepare for flooding situations: 

• Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater
• Never allow children to play in or near floodwater
• If evacuated, do not return until it is safe to do so
• Follow the advice of authorities (including any requests for evacuation)
• Leave early before flooding occurs and goto family or friends on higher ground if you can
• Contact family, neighbours and those you know are at risk to ensure they are aware of the situation and know what to do
• Learn more about the risk of flooding in your area – Check to see if your community has a Local Flood Guide or local flood information

It is important that you do not drive through floodwater, but here are some tips for driving on the road in heavy rain if you have no other option: 

• Keep your eyes on the road and pay attention to the cars around you. 
• Keep your headlights on so that vehicles can see you and you can see them! 
• Skidding/hydroplaning is where the tyres lose their grip on a wet surface and slides. Try to drive in the tracks of the cars in front of you to increase your tyre grip on the road.
• Allow a 5 second gap between you and the car in front. By doing this, you can avoid any nasty crashes.
• The rain can cause your windscreen to fog up, blocking your vision. Turn on the defogger and aircon in the front and back of your car.  You’ll get the best results running the aircon on cold!
• Check live traffic updates online or on the radio to see if there are any road closures or accidents. Plan your trip to avoid heavy traffic and be aware of current weather conditions.

You can go to the SES website for your state for more information on how to prepare for any dangerous flooding situations. 

As always, stay safe out on the roads.