Breakdown cover specialist GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to take care during the next few days, with Met. Office amber and yellow warnings in place for heavy rain across large parts of the country.
There is an amber rain warning today for parts of southern and eastern Britain, where some places could see a month’s worth of rain in less than 24 hours. Yellow warnings are in place for heavy rain across eastern areas of England on Tuesday, with the north-west also included on Wednesday and Thursday.
GEM road safety officer Neil Worth commented: “We are warning drivers to be ready for disruption to their journeys, and to check their routes before setting out.
“Expect the unexpected during these conditions. Floods will occur not only because rivers burst their banks, but because surface water is unable to drain away from roads or because water runs off fields and ditches overflow onto roads. So take it easy, and put safety first.â€
GEM is encouraging motorists to gain the most accurate picture of roads conditions by following regional radio and television weather forecasts closely. Details of current weather warnings are available from www.metoffice.gov.uk or on Twitter @metoffice.
GEM recently produced a short video with simple advice for drivers on staying safe on wet and flooded roads. The main message from the video is for drivers to postpone journeys and not to go attempt to drive through floods. But for those who get caught, there are tips on maximum depths of water to drive through, paying heed to flood warnings and road blocks, how to reduce the risk of stalling and what to do if you do stall in a flood.
