Flooding
is
visible
on the
Lodge
Freeway
at I-94.
Mandi
Wright,
DFP
Torrential
Rains
Increase
Flooding,
Road
Risks
and
Hazardous
Driving
Conditions
DEARBORN,
MI - AAA
is
issuing
a
Statewide
Flooded
Roads
Alert as
the
weekend’s
torrential
rain and
forecasted
morning
rush
hour
rain
pose an
increased
risk for
flooding
and
hazardous
driving
conditions
as
Michiganders
head
into the
start of
the
traditional
work
week.
This is
the
second
time
this
year
that AAA
has
issued a
statewide
flood-related
alert.
Wet
roads
increase
the
distance
needed
to stop
safely,
reduce
the
ability
to steer
a
vehicle
safely
and
increase
the
probability
of a
collision.
Heavy
rain can
limit
visibility
and safe
driving
conditions.
AAA
Michigan
supports
local
law
enforcement
recommendations
cautioning
drivers
and
advises
motorist
to
follow
these
tips:
AAA Tips
for
Driving
on Wet
Roads
•
Avoid
Standing
Water
and
Flooded
Roads at
all
Times:
There is
no way
to tell
how deep
standing
water is
on a
flooded
road and
driving
through
it can
cause a
vehicle
to stall
and
result
in
severe
damage
to the
vehicle
from:
•
Flooding
the
engine
•
Warping
brake
rotors
• Loss
of power
steering
• Short
in
electrical
components
Slow
Down and
Leave
Room:
Slowing
down
during
wet
weather
driving
can be
critical
to
reducing
a car’s
chance
of
hydroplaning,
when the
tires
rise up
on a
film of
water.
With as
little
as ½
inch of
water on
the
road,
tires
have to
displace
a gallon
of water
per
second
to keep
the
rubber
meeting
the
road.
Drivers
should
reduce
their
speed to
correspond
to the
amount
of water
on the
roadway.
At
speeds
as low
as 35
mph, new
tires
can
still
lose
some
contact
with the
roadway.
Also, it
is
important
for
motorists
to allow
ample
stopping
distance
between
cars by
increasing
the
following
distance
of the
vehicle
in front
of them
and
beginning
to slow
down to
stop for
intersections,
turns
and
other
traffic
early.
Avoid
Cruise
Control:
This
feature
works
great in
dry
conditions,
but when
used in
wet
conditions,
the
chance
of
losing
control
of the
vehicle
can
increase.
To
prevent
loss of
traction,
the
driver
may need
to
reduce
the
car’s
speed by
lifting
off the
accelerator,
which
cannot
be
accomplished
when
cruise
control
is
engaged.
Check
Tires:
Make
sure
tires
are
properly
inflated
and have
enough
tread
depth.
This
will
allow
the
vehicle
to have
better
traction
and
maneuverability
on the
road.
Worn
tires
with
little
tread
are much
more
likely
to
hydroplane
on wet
pavement,
resulting
in a
loss of
braking
power
and
steering
control.
Check
the
tread
depth of
your
car’s
tires by
inserting
a
quarter
upside
down
into a
tire
groove.
If you
can see
above
Washington’s
head at
any
point,
it’s
time for
new
tires.
“Motorists
need to
exercise
extreme
caution
and slow
down
when
driving
on
rain-soaked
roads
and
highways,”
said
Susan
Hiltz,
Michigan
public
affairs
director
for AAA
– The
Auto
Club.
“There
continues
to be a
high
risk for
flooding
and
hazardous
driving
conditions.
If
staying
off the
roads
temporarily
or
minimizing
drive
time is
viable
for some
drivers,
AAA
recommends
that
they
exercise
that
safety
option.
According
to data
from the
National
Highway
Traffic
Safety
Administration,
nearly
1.2
million
traffic
crashes
occur
each
year on
wet
pavement
with
more
than a
half
million
injuries
and
5,700
deaths.”
AAA
also
recommends
that
drivers:
• Keep
windshields
clean,
inside
and out.
• Keep
wipers
clean
and in
good
condition.
• Keep
headlights
clean.
•
Increase
the
following
distance
between
your
vehicle
and the
one in
front of
you.
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