The risk and impacts of flooding continue to be a serious concern affecting many parts of Australia, and will undoubtedly remain so in the future.
In the aftermath of a flood, immediate efforts naturally focus on repair of essential infrastructure such as houses and roads. But what about vehicles, and particularly, trucks? How is a truck impacted by flooding, such as being inadvertently driven through floodwater, or being parked in standing or rising water?
The NHVR have released a useful guide for industry outlining the risks to heavy vehicles impacted by flooding, covering the following areas:
- debris (mud, sticks, rocks, grass) caught on the vehicle’s running gear, including brakes, other moving parts, and lights
- water or mud ingress into sealed components (including electrical components), causing damage to the component, including leaks
- grease/lubrication removal caused by external water ‘wash’
The guide advises any vehicle impacted by flooding should be scheduled for a thorough inspection by an appropriately trained person, and that the conditions the vehicle was subject to are thoroughly explained to them.
Similarly, all road users are reminded of the serious safety risk of knowingly driving in flood waters – remember, if its flooded, forget it!
Image credit: Broome bound freight crossing the flooded Roebuck Plains under strict main road permits – Senator Glenn Sterle (Twitter)
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