Revision question · Band 2 traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge

You're driving a car that has manual transmission. What should you do if you have to drive through shallow flood water?

Revision material from the imported DVSA bank includes source-checked Lanekind learning corrections. These corrections are not newly issued official examination questions, and practice does not reproduce a live test paper.

Answer options

Drive slowly, in as high a gear as possible, slipping the clutch if necessary

Drive slowly, in first gear and with a high engine speed, slipping the clutch if necessary

Drive as quickly as possible, in a low gear, without slipping the clutch

Drive as quickly as possible, in a high gear, slipping the clutch if necessary

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Drive slowly, in first gear and with a high engine speed, slipping the clutch if necessaryThis was the right answer

You should always assess the depth of the water and avoid driving through deep or fast-flowing water. There's a risk that water may stop the engine if it enters the combustion chamber via the air intake, obstructs the exhaust pipe or short-circuits the ignition system. In addition, there's a risk of the vehicle being swept away by fast-flowing water.

To drive through shallow water, you should drive slowly, because this will prevent a wave from washing over the engine. To ensure the exhaust pipe doesn't become flooded, the engine speed should be kept high, which may require you to slip the clutch.

Reviewed reading for this question

Driving through shallow water safelyReviewed guidance summary · The shallow-water technique follows an assessment that the water is safe; cross slowly and test the brakes afterwards.

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