What should you do if you encounter a road with water covering the pavement and it seems deep?

What should you do if you encounter a road with water covering the pavement and it seems deep?

• A. Turn around and seek an alternate route.
• B. Drive slowly through the water.
• C. Stop in the water and assess depth from inside the car.
• D. Continue with high beams on.

Answer: (A)

Water on the road can hide hazards and the depth is impossible to judge from the driver’s seat. Even a small amount of moving water can push a vehicle off the road or stall the engine, and the pavement beneath could be washed away or damaged. Because you can’t reliably gauge depth or road condition, the safest action is to turn around and take a different route. Driving through the water, stopping in it, or using high beams won’t make crossing safer and can put you at greater risk.

Water on the road can hide hazards and the depth is impossible to judge from the driver’s seat. Even a small amount of moving water can push a vehicle off the road or stall the engine, and the pavement beneath could be washed away or damaged. Because you can’t reliably gauge depth or road condition, the safest action is to turn around and take a different route. Driving through the water, stopping in it, or using high beams won’t make crossing safer and can put you at greater risk.