A driving instructor has shared three important rules he claims you must follow on the roads this week as Storm Chandra hits. The Met Office has issued a high-level amber weather warning, with 290 flood alerts in place as of Tuesday morning (January 27) and winds of up to 80mph forecast in some regions. Several major roads and bridges have already been closed in both directions as the adverse conditions take their toll.
"In these kind of conditions there's a lot of spray and surface spray, so it's a good idea to put your headlights on," advised instructor, Mark Zondo - known as Theory Test Hero on social media. He continued: "With dipped headlights, this way it is going to be easier for other drivers to see you."
Mark also pointed out that driving without your lights on - even in daylight hours - makes it harder for lorry drivers to see you, particularly when they are changing lanes.
As for distance been vehicles, he went on to suggest maintaining a "nice" gap from the car in front. "You can't really see much for one, there's a lot of spray and also the road is very slippery because of the wet and so you don't want to be to close in case you have to brake suddenly," he said.
Illustrating his final caution, Mark lifted his foot of the accelerator gently rather than applying the brake abruptly to slow his car safely during the downpour.
The first weather warnings came into force at midnight on Tuesday and will be in place for 17 hours. They warn of rainfall accumulations of 20-30mm in the affected areas, with up to 40-50mm possible in some locations.
Tips for driving in heavy rain on the motorway #drivinglessons #drivingtips #drivingtesttips #drivingtest
The Met Office also warned there will be a "sharp increase" in snow depths with elevation, with the potential for between two and five centremetres in places above about 300m, five to 10cm above 400m, and 10-20 cm above 500m.
National Highways has issued its own advice in the wake of Storm Chandra, meanwhile. "Road users are advised to plan ahead, avoid unnecessary travel where possible, and allow extra time for journeys," they stated. "Drivers should be aware that surrounding local roads may also be affected by flooding and should not attempt to drive through floodwater."
Addressing the flooding situation more broadly, National Highways explained that specialist teams will examine carriageway drainage systems, including gullies, culverts and ditches, inspecting for blockages caused by leaves, silt and debris carried by fast‐falling rain. "If drainage systems are overwhelmed or obstructed, water cannot recede naturally, prolonging closure times," the travel authority stated.
