Tips for motorists during floods

PETALING JAYA: Sometimes, staying safe while on the road during floods just requires common sense.

As transport consultant Y. S. Chan points out, don’t drive if the water flow is overly swift. There is always a chance that your car can be swept away.

And, of course, if you can’t see the road due to flood waters, it’s likely to be too deep for your vehicle.

If your car stalls in the water, it could mean that the engine has been damaged. Repairs could cost upwards of RM10,000 depending on the make and model of the vehicle, Chan said.

To make matters worse, such damage may not be covered by insurance.

Unfortunately, many people fail to take heed of simple safety rules. Rather than wait, they risk their lives by attempting to cross flooded roads, just like the motorcyclist who nearly got swept away along with his vehicle for throwing caution to the wind.

A video of his misadventure has been making the rounds on social media.

Chan advised drivers to ensure that the water level is not above the base of the door before attempting to drive on flooded roads.

“Never cross when the water is flowing swiftly. It’s generally safer if the water is still and the driver is familiar with the road,” he told theSun.

He said parts of a road can collapse or be washed away during floods, posing a serious threat to motorists.

The onset of the year-end monsoon last month has led to floods in several parts of the country, particularly in Johor and the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

There have been several landslides and structures have collapsed in many places. Apart from the risk to life and limb, the possibility of serious damage to vehicles cannot be ruled out.

While every car today is designed to take a lot of punishment, extremely severe conditions can still cause extensive damage.

Water can seep into the engine compartment of the car and damage the ignition system or even the pistons. Damaged or worn out weather strips will not be able to stop water from flowing into passenger compartments.

Motor vehicle specialist Chew Kim Long estimated that it would cost RM600 to RM800 to clean soiled upholstery.

“However, it will cost about RM1,200 to just replace the fabric for the front seats.”

Transport specialist Yamin Vong agrees. He estimated that it would cost RM2,500 to replace the fabric of the seats of a small car.

Chew said that if water is trapped within the engine, it could still be flushed out. “Most times, the problem is not with the mechanical parts but it’s with electronic components.” He said repairs could cost up to RM15,000, depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

“Among the parts that may need to be changed are the transmission system, fuse box, radiator fan, and air-conditioning compressor. The most expensive parts are the electronic components and safety restraint systems.”

A mechanic said it would be cheaper to just replace the engine. “For a medium range car, a replacement engine will cost about RM5,000.”

Insurance coverage may pose another problem. Chan estimated that 95% of vehicle owners neglect to obtain insurance against natural disasters such as floods, leaving them with hefty bills.

However, insurance agent Andrea Chan said, one could still get coverage against floods with a top-up of about RM100 in an insurance policy. This comes under the “special perils” category.

The damage, however, is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and selected categories of damage may not be covered, even if they are also caused by floods.

All said and done, it is best to just wait out a deluge.