The Environment Agency is advising people to remain vigilant and prepared for flooding. The heaviest rain is forecast over the Midlands, including Shropshire – this afternoon and tonight. With the rain falling on already saturated ground, there is a risk of flooding from rivers and surface water flooding where rain overwhelms drainage systems.

Motorists are being urged to take extra care in adverse weather conditions. If driving through larger puddles or smaller areas of standing water, drive slowly and steadily, allow oncoming traffic to pass and always test your brakes after leaving the water. If water has flooded across a section of road it may be difficult to tell exactly how deep it is. If you do come across a road that is flooded DO NOT attempt to drive through the flood water. Not only is this putting yourself in danger; as little as an egg cup of water entering your engine is enough to wreck it.

Visibility can also be seriously reduced in heavy rain so headlights MUST be used, together with allowing a bigger gap between you and the car in front to allow for the increased stopping distance. If you are unlucky enough to breakdown in any further heavy rain, advice from the AA is to try and get the car to a safe and visible place, call for roadside assistance and wait for help to arrive.

Anna Higgins from the Safer Roads Partnership said:

“We are urging all motorists to exercise caution in adverse weather conditions, use common sense and follow our simple advice. The storms that have taken place recently highlight just how quickly roads can become flooded and very dangerous. Stay alert to local weather and news reports and visit the Environment Agency website for the latest flood information. If your local area is experiencing flooding it’s advisable to leave any non essential travel until it has subsided.”