Here’s how to drive on a flooded Montreal road

Here are some tips for navigating a flooded road during a heavy rainstorm with an expert from CAA Quebec.

An 82-year-old man is lucky to be alive after Montreal police (SPVM) officers rescued him from his car during Sunday’s thunderstorm.

His car was stuck under an overpass with water levels rising, and while the circumstances leading to his being trapped are unclear, CAA Quebec says that taking chances while driving in heavy rainfall is unwise.

Heavy rainfalls are becoming an annual occurrence in Quebec, with roads and highways flooding and, sometimes, trapping drivers.

CAA Quebec Foundation for Road Safety director Andre Durocher said a rule of thumb is to come to a safe stop when water is pooling on the road, and do not drive through it.

“If you do not see underneath, don’t take any chances,” he said. “There could be a pothole, there could be something left over there.”

Durocher added that driving through water could also be bad for the vehicle.

“We have to keep in mind, nowadays, a lot of the cars, there’s a lot of electrical components even under the car,” he said. “So having water there could cause damage that will totally ruin your vehicle. If your car has been flooded, don’t try to restart it.”

Durocher says navigating flooding is becoming a part of summer driving in Quebec, especially on highways, and it’s useful to find other routes or stay off the road entirely.

“If it’s starting to rain, and you know with your alerts on your phone,” said Durocher. “Don’t attempt, wait. It’s not worth risking being stuck.”

If you are stuck, do not panic and consider your options.

“You could take a second or two to assess the situation very quickly,” said Durocher. “Are you in an area where your car is going to end up eventually completely sinking, or are you just stuck in a big pothole, or are you stuck in a ditch?”

Durocher added that staying in your car or not when water levels are rising is a case-by-case situation.

He said to take care of yourself first and then other passengers with climbing out of a window, one exit strategy.

“If they don’t work, well there are other alternatives,” he said. “We saw people that were rescued by two employees at the grocery store. They pressed the button for the hatch at the back to get out of there.”

Durocher stressed the importance of staying calm and that if there is major rainfall, do not take any chances behind the wheel.