Durban floods: How to survive the heavy rain on the road

Dozens of motorists have had difficulty with flooded roads, mud slides and debris in and around the city. Newswatch has complied a list of safety tips that will help drivers better navigate their way. 

Here's how you can ensure you're safe on the roads. 

- Drive with headlights on in rainy, wet weather.

- If you approach a flooded road, don't try to drive through the water - use alternative roads if possible.

- Drive at a safe travelling distance.

- Road users should be extra careful when driving at dawn, dusk or during the night. Rather travel during the day when temperatures are milder and visibility is better. 

- Delay travel when visibility is poor - even for an hour or two. 

- Consider drivers travelling behind you and the opposite direction - drive through flooded areas of the road one vehicle at a time. 

Below are tips from Arrive Alive on the danger of flowing water on the road.

- Flowing water applies pressure to contact areas. The higher the speed the higher is the pressure.

- With water that is one meter high it will flow out at a speed of 4.47 meters per second or 16 km/h. The pressure is one metric tone per square meter.

- Be careful, water that has fallen only 0.4m reached a speed at 3.2 km/h and can sweep your car off a road bridge.

- When the side of the body of a vehicle makes contact with the water the force increases rapidly but the water now also acts on the underside of the vehicle as well and starts to lift it. It is now able to float like as ship. The weight of the vehicle will not be able to hold it on the road.

- Be careful, 0.6 meters of water can float a car. Only vehicles that are open and let the water through will behave differently.