Two-thirds of motorists would risk their lives in a flood
A shocking two-thirds of drivers would gamble with their safety by
driving through floodwater – even though this is the leading cause
of death during a flood, new figures have revealed. In a survey
commissioned by the Environment Agency and the AA, 68% of motorists
admitted they’d take the risk rather than find a safer route. The
alarming figures emerge as the...Request free trial
A shocking two-thirds of drivers would gamble with their safety by driving through floodwater – even though this is the leading cause of death during a flood, new figures have revealed. In a survey commissioned by the Environment Agency and the AA, 68% of motorists admitted they’d take the risk rather than find a safer route. The alarming figures emerge as the Environment Agency runs its campaign warning people across the country to be prepared for flooding in advance by checking their risk and signing up for free warnings The AA has rescued more than 14,500 drivers from floods since 2013 with the top spot being Rufford Lane in Newark, Nottinghamshire, where over 100 rescues have been carried out in the last 5 years. Driving through floodwater puts the lives of drivers and their passengers on the line, risks the safety of emergency responders, and often causes serious damage to the vehicle, with three-quarters of flood-damaged cars ultimately being written off. Caroline Douglass, Director of Incident Management and Resilience at the Environment Agency, said:
Vince Crane, AA Patrol of the Year, said:
The survey of more than 18,000 AA members, carried out by Populus also found that:
5.2 million homes and businesses in England are at risk of flooding. This winter the Environment Agency is encouraging people to be prepared and stay safe during flooding by checking their flood risk online. For more information on driving in heavy rain and standing water visit the AA’s website. The top 10 spots for rescues from flood water January 2013 – December 2017 were:
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