Caution urged on Wiltshire Roads this morning after Storm Ciaran hits

We're told to travel only if we have to

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 2nd Nov 2023

Road users in Wiltshire are urged to be cautious this morning (Thursday 2nd November) by Wiltshire Council after Storm Ciaran hit last night.

With the ground already waterlogged from recent wet weather, and last week’s Storm Babet, instant flooding is possible.

Adrian Hampton is Head of Highways at Wiltshire Council, he’s advising us to check online media sources for the latest updates.

“Check the media or check the Council's social media sites. They will keep you updated where the road flooding is so it's always better to do use those rather than make an assumption that this road is going to be clear or not.

“You have to assume that when you're travelling that in these storm conditions there will be disruptions,” he added.

Adrian said that while the roads are capable of dealing with the rain, the network itself can be overwhelmed by the volume of rain that falls and getting it away from the highways.

We’re also advised to allow more time for our journey’s and to only travel if we really need to.

“If you have to turn your windscreen wipers on, slow down so you know, allow that extra bit of time of travelling and leave gaps between yourself and the car in front.

“If you come across a flooded area, don't drive through it.”

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) joined the calls for caution, saying it can take just an eggcup’s amount of water to seize a car engine.

The service have issued a number of reminders for when driving in area’s affected by heavy rain.

• Wherever possible, don’t drive through standing water – as well as the water damaging your car, there may be hazards under the water you can’t see.

• If you are driving a larger vehicle, do not go through flood water at speed as this creates a ‘bow wave’ that can then cause flooding to other vehicles or adjacent properties.

• Slow down and take extra care if driving a high sided vehicle in strong winds.

• If heavy rain is making visibility difficult when driving, pull over if possible and safe to do so.

• Remember that roads will be slippery during wet conditions.

• Don’t try and walk through floodwater that is above knee level, as the force of the water could easily knock you off your feet. There is also a danger of open manholes, trenches or other hazards that you can’t see.

Group Manager Brad Stevens said: “While this stormy weather continues, please drive to the conditions and be particularly cautious at fords, where water levels can rise a lot in a short space of time. Storm Ciaran has the potential to cause a lot of damage in our area, so we urge residents to make their homes safe and follow our advice.”

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.