Advice for drivers to cope with floods

The floods have inflicted record losses, and this is another major lesson that related agencies must learn and prevent from happening again.
Most of all, the government must make people understand why it has to devote so much of its resources to protecting industrial estates. They must explain that this doesn’t mean that the government cares for the industrial sector more than its people, but the damage is more widespread in this sector.
The government needs to create confidence among Thai and foreign investors that it can find ways to prevent this kind of crisis from happening again, and show how it would help businesses recover after the floods. It must also have a plan to stimulate the country’s economy and restore purchasing power.
Honda is the auto-maker most affected by the floods, and it is expected that the earliest that the Japanese giant can revive production is March next year.
Other auto-makers are also affected as suppliers of electronic components, mostly located in Ayutthaya province, are suffering from the heavy flooding. This has lowered the number of vehicles that will reach customers this year to just 800,000 units, down from the anticipated 900,000.
Amid the flood situation, there are many people who need to drive through the flood waters often. They have accidents while driving in flooded conditions and also experience malfunctioning of their vehicle due to the high water level. This leads to added repair costs. But knowing how to drive in flooded conditions can help you minimise the damage. 
The first thing you need to understand is that for general drivers without professional experience of flooded conditions, the maximum water level for safe driving is no higher than half the wheel. Bear in mind we are talking of normal flood water, not fiercely flowing water.
If you have to drive through moving water, the acceptable level is as high as the vehicle floor. The driver must be extra careful because the water will push up the vehicle and the tyres won’t touch the ground. The powerful water flow from the side can easily push the vehicle away from its course or even off the road.
If the car is driven into a large hole and the flowing water pushes the vehicle from the rear, it’s possible that the car’s rear end may be lifted. The car will then lose its direction and it would be very difficult to bring it back on course. In some cases, the water may even overturn the car and it will flow away with the water. If it is a diesel pickup truck, however, you can drive through almost wheel-high water level. But in strong water flows, it could also suffer the same fate as passenger cars.
Before driving through flooded areas, switch on the low beam. In case the car drifts away from the road, others can notice the light. And if you think that you are in a situation that is out of control, blow the horn for a long time to call for help.
If you drive a vehicle with a manual gearbox, always shift into second gear when passing floods (D or D2 for automatic gearbox and not L). You must maintain a steady speed, making sure it is not above 20km/h. I shall stress that the speed must be constant, not fast and slow, otherwise water will splash into the engine room, causing the engine to stall.
If the vehicle is a part-time 4WD, never use 4 Low because it will be difficult to maintain steady speed. Always use 4 High instead.
While driving through floods, the driver must look out for the wave crest. If the water flows over the bonnet, then the speed is too high. If the wave from the front heads back and crashes against the vehicle, then the speed is too low.
If the vehicle has a cooling fan for the air compressor, switch off the air-con before driving through the flood. Otherwise the fan would cause water to splash all over the engine room, causing electrical problems that could stall the engine. But for modern vehicles without cooling fans for the air-con system, there is no need to switch off the air-con.
After crossing the flood and making sure there are no other vehicles close by, maintain the 20km/h speed and use your left foot to slowly press on the brake pedal until you feel that it is working. During this time, the vehicle may tend to move left or right, so keep your hand firm on the steering wheel. Use your left foot to step on the brakes three or four times until you feel that the brake has started to operate normally without the vehicle swaying to either side.
For vehicles with manual gearbox, after you dry the brakes, find a safe place to park. Fully engage the parking brake, fully depress the clutch and keep it there for 5-10 seconds before releasing. Repeat this procedure three to four times before proceeding.
Once you return home, engage the parking brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling. And in the morning if you shift into gear and find that the vehicle won’t move, don’t worry. This is caused by the brake pads being sucked into the brake discs. Just take off with more gas than usual (if possible reverse the vehicle harshly). You’ll hear a thump and the vehicle will jerk a bit, but then you’ll unlock the brakes and be able to drive on without any damage.