Updated: 08:04 EST, 14 November 2025
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With Britain set to be drenched by a month's worth of rain in 24 hours on Friday, motoring experts have warned there is a one button in their cars they should absolutely not press during Storm Claudia.
Two 12-hour 'danger to life' amber warnings for up to six inches (150mm) of rain have been imposed for parts of central England and South Wales, from noon until midnight.
And as well as 120 flood alerts nationwide, Britons will also be tackling winds of up to 70mph.
With the treacherous conditions set to cause havoc on the roads, motoring groups and safety organisations have been urging caution to drivers.
Among the recommendations to keep motorists safe is the call for drivers to not use one everyday feature designed for convenience.
With a rise in surface water on roads comes the risk of 'aquaplaning' - where a layer of water between tyres and the road surface can lead to a total loss of traction and control of the vehicle's direction of travel.
And using a car's cruise control can increase the risk of this happening, Select Car Leasing has warned.
With Britain set to be drenched by a month's worth of rain within 24 hours on Friday, motoring experts have warned drivers not to use one car feature during Storm Claudia...
Cruise control can increase the risk of aquaplaning when driving through standing water, which is why drivers are told to not use it during storm conditions
Graham Conway, managing director at the vehicle leasing company, warned: 'Cruise control assumes that your car's tyres are maintaining constant traction with the road.
'When that traction fails, such as when you aquaplane, the system senses a drop in engine load - perhaps assuming you're climbing a steep hill - and adds throttle to maintain your speed.
'In an aquaplaning scenario, the last thing you want to do is to accelerate and make your tyres spin even faster, as it's likely to worsen your loss of traction.
'Relying on cruise control in wet weather driving might also delay your reaction to the threat while masking the fact that you're aquaplaning at all.
'Cruise control also makes it tougher to ease off the accelerator gently - which you should do if you start aquaplaning - as it's typically cancelled by applying the brakes or dabbing the clutch, both of which could actually add to your loss of control.'
The issue is highlighted in rule 121 of the Highway Code, which states that if a motorist has driven through deep water, they should test the effectiveness of their brakes at the first safe opportunity.
Without functioning brakes, a vehicle could be deemed unsafe, and could lead to a fine up to £2,500, three points on a driving licence, and possibly a driving ban.
James Driscoll, motor claims manager at Aviva, said: 'Flash floods can catch us off guard and the depth of flood water can also be deceptive, meaning that drivers may not always be able to gauge the true depth of the water or see submerged hazards on the road.
'If you encounter a flood or higher levels of flood water in a ford, always find an alternative route to your destination. Even a small amount of water can cause severe damage to your brakes and engine, potentially leading to irreparable damage to your vehicle.
'Water from floods can often be contaminated with sewage or mud which can lead to extensive repairs to your car, if it’s repairable at all.'
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