Motoring: Why vehicles are swept away during floods

Loss of traction

Vehicles tend to lose traction in the floodwaters that most of the time erode and loosen the ground beneath a car. In most cases, the vehicles become easy to move with the currents considering the debris that dislodges them, as the force of water persists.

Depth and velocity of water

Deeper waters create enough buoyancy and drag to move even the heaviest vehicles. The situation can get worse if the water is deeper and faster as has been the case in the viral videos shared online.

Hydraulic waves

The sudden changes in water depth and velocity, such as hydraulic waves, do apply sudden, strong forces to a vehicle, pushing it or rolling it over.

Structural integrity

What most drivers forget is that water has a force that can damage the vehicle's structure. Once water gets into the vehicle, its structural integrity is compromised and further reduces its weight while increasing its buoyancy.

In conclusion, no matter the type of vehicle or weight being ferried, never try crossing a road that is flooded because you will only become a statistic of the unforgiving rains and floods.

Park and wait!