By Bryna Sim

WHEN the rains came down and floodwaters rose last Thursday in the Bukit Timah area, many motorists were caught unawares.

Some who left their cars in underground carparks at Sixth Avenue found their vehicles submerged by the floodwaters.

Others whose vehicles broke down halfway in the flood had to either abandon their vehicles, or manually direct traffic in the pouring rain because their cars had broken down mid-lane and were blocking the way.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the highest rainfall last Thursday was 115.8mm, recorded in the Ulu Pandan area.

The flood happened when a stretch of the Bukit Timah Canal could not contain the huge volume of water flowing into it.

The water overflowed at the junction of Sixth Avenue, and onto immediate low-lying areas next to the canal from Third Avenue to Coronation Road.

The highest one-day rainfall for November so far was 198.6mm in 1995.

NEA added that moderate to heavy showers in the afternoon and early evening can be expected on six to eight days until 30 Nov.

Members of the public can either call the Meteorological Service Division (MSD) at 65427788 or visit www.nea.gov.sg for the latest weather reports.

The monsoon season will last from this month to February next year. The New Paper speaks to motoring experts on what motorists should do in the case of another flood.

Q: Should motorists drive in the event of a flood?

No, says an Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS) spokesman. "You should avoid a flood situation, because you may not know what you are getting yourself into," he explained.

Motorists should listen for news updates over the radio, because they might be unaware of the depth of the flood and the road conditions ahead.

But if there is "low flooding", it may still be safe to drive. Mr Dennis Bay, Chief Technical Officer of STAR Automotive Centre said if the driver can see the "road markings", he can still attempt to drive on.

"But if you see the water level anything above a third of your tyre rims, you should stop driving," said the AAS spokesman.

Q: But what if I'm caught in the flood whilst driving halfway?

If possible, try to get out of the flood by finding a detour, said the AAS spokesman.

"If not, drive and stop by the side of a road and do not carry on driving," the spokesman added.

The motorist should call for assistance.

"Do not try to get your car out of the flood on your own, and do not even stand near your car. Find a dry spot to wait out the flood instead," he said.

Q: Should motorists then keep to a particular speed limit?

They should keep to about 20kmh in the event of serious flooding, said STAR Automotive Centre's Mr Bay. Motorists should also turn on their headlights to increase visibility, added Ms Tammy Tan from ComfortDelGro Engineering.

Q: Should motorists keep their feet on the accelerator to ensure that the engine does not die out?

Both STAR Automotive Centre's Mr Bay and ComfortDelGro Engineering's Ms Tan felt that this was necessary, as taking one's foot off the accelerator pedal would mean allowing water to enter the vehicle's exhaust pipe, which could lead to engine failure.

Q: Should motorists restart their broken-down vehicles during a flood?

No, said STAR Automotive Centre's Mr Bay. In the event of a vehicle breakdown, motorists should leave their cars immediately and call for roadside assistance.

"The vehicle's internal components might have been contaminated by the flood, so it is best to not restart the engine lest more damage is done," he explained.

Q: In these flood-prone times, how should motorists keep their vehicles in good condition?

Ms Tan felt that immediately after driving through a flood, motorists should dry their brake systems, by "tapping on the brake and the accelerator lightly a few times". The AAS spokesman said motorists should take their vehicles for regular servicing.

He added that motorists could also check with their manufacturers if unsure, since different cars have different servicing periods.

This article was first published in The New Paper.