Monsoon Driving: How Employers Can Keep Drivers and Commuters Safe

Every monsoon, roads that were dry in the morning can be under water by the evening. For people who drive for work, or who commute by car, that means real risk, and for employers it raises a clear question: what are we doing to keep our people safe on the road?

This article looks at monsoon driving from the employer's side, together with the key rules every driver should know.

Three rules every driver should know

Automotive experts give consistent advice for flooded roads.

1. Judge the depth, and turn back if it is too deep. Standing water is hard to read. As a working rule, if the water reaches above half the height of your tyres, do not drive into it. Find another route. Deep water can badly damage the engine and the vehicle's electrical systems, and it can carry a car off the road.

2. If you have to drive through shallow water, keep the engine running. Keeping the engine going helps stop water getting into the exhaust. Drive slowly and steadily, without stopping in the water. But if the water around you keeps rising beyond half tyre height, leave the vehicle and get to higher ground. Your life matters more than the car.

3. Be ready for the electrics to fail. A car that stalls in deep water may lose power to its electric windows and central locking, which can trap people inside. Lower the windows before entering a flooded stretch, or keep a window-breaking tool within easy reach. If the engine stops in water, do not try to restart it; get out and get clear.

Above all, the safest choice is not to drive into waterlogged areas at all.

If you are caught in rising water

1. Unbuckle your seatbelt, and help passengers, starting with children.
2. Open a window while the electrics still work, or break the side window with your tool. Side windows are easier to break than the windscreen.
3. Get out and move to higher ground straight away. Do not stay with the vehicle.
4. Call 112 once you are safe.
5. Do not go back for belongings or to check on the vehicle.

Two-wheeler riders

Many people in Indian cities commute by scooter or motorcycle. Floodwater hides potholes, open drains and debris, and it does not need to be deep to knock a two-wheeler over. If you cannot see the road surface, do not ride through it. Wait, or find another way.

What employers can do

Many of the decisions that keep drivers safe are made before anyone gets behind the wheel. A monsoon driving plan might include:

• Clear permission to turn back. Tell drivers, in writing, that they are never expected to drive through flood water, and that a late delivery or missed meeting is always acceptable.
• Journey planning. Check weather warnings and flood-prone routes before trips, and allow extra time.
• Flexible working on red-alert days. Where the work allows, let people work from home or travel outside the worst hours.
• Vehicle checks before the season. Tyres, brakes, wipers, lights and demisters should all be in good order.
• Emergency kit in every fleet vehicle, including a window breaker and seatbelt cutter, a torch, a charged phone or power bank, drinking water and a basic first aid kit.
• A check-in system for drivers on long or remote journeys, so someone notices if they do not arrive.
• Emergency numbers saved in every phone, starting with 112.

For drivers and commuters

• Leave earlier, or wait it out, rather than rush through bad weather.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front; wet brakes need more room to stop.
• After driving through water, test your brakes gently at low speed.
• Watch for open drains, fallen branches and overhead wires, which floodwater can hide or bring down.
• If you are unsure about the depth, do not guess.

Training that helps

Many monsoon accidents come down to decisions made under pressure. Training helps drivers recognise hazards early and stay in control. Our Defensive Driving training covers anticipating hazards, maintaining control and adjusting to conditions, and our Driver Fitness training addresses fatigue, health and the other factors that affect the person behind the wheel.

To arrange training before the next monsoon, write to info@eduforce.in or message us on WhatsApp at 8779291591.

This article is for general awareness. Always follow local traffic and weather advisories. In an emergency, call 112.