Florida drivers are used to afternoon storms, but a multi-day soaking is different. When rain keeps falling, water collects faster than it can drain, and a familiar road can turn impassable. That’s what happened in parts of Central Florida this week.
What Happened
WESH reported that torrential downpours brought heavy rain to Central Florida, with ponding on roads and possible localized flooding, as heavy rainfall continued into Monday morning, Nov. 2.
According to the West Melbourne Police Department, flooding made several roadways in West Melbourne impassable, including Minton Road northbound at Helen Street and Minton Road southbound at U.S. 192. Police urged motorists to avoid flooded areas and stay off the roads unless travel was absolutely necessary. WESH also reported a flash flood warning for parts of Brevard County, and Brevard County Public Schools and some private schools closed on Monday due to flooding. WESH shared photos of vehicles stranded on roads.
Forecasters said the rain marked the start of an active pattern, with another storm system expected late in the week.
Why Floodwater Is So Dangerous
It’s easy to look at a flooded street and think your car can make it. The National Weather Service’s Turn Around Don’t Drown page explains why that’s a gamble:
- Water is stronger than it looks. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars, and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks.
- Vehicles are involved in most flood drownings. The NWS says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous floodwater.
- The road itself may be gone. The NWS warns never to drive around barriers blocking a flooded road, because the road may have collapsed under the water.
- Walking is risky, too. As little as 6 inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock over an adult.
The Official Florida Driver License Handbook is just as clear: if you come to a flooded roadway, turn around and find another route. It’s impossible to determine the depth or current, and your vehicle could become submerged or swept away.
How to Drive Safely in Heavy Florida Rain
The Florida handbook offers several rain-driving basics:
- Turn on your headlights when you turn on your wipers.
- Slow down. Roads become slick during rainstorms, especially if it hasn’t rained in a while and oil has built up on the pavement.
- Increase your following distance. Wet roads increase your braking and stopping distance.
- Watch for hydroplaning. Your vehicle can slide on a thin layer of water between your tires and the road. Low tire pressure, worn tread, and speeding all increase the risk.
- Check your brakes after deep water. Wet brakes may pull to one side or not hold at all. Slow down and gently press the brake pedal until they’re working again.
A few more habits help during a multi-day rain event:
- Check road closures before you leave, and follow local police and county updates.
- Stay off the road if you can. If officials ask drivers to avoid travel, the safest trip is the one you postpone.
- Never drive around barricades. They’re there because the road ahead isn’t safe.
- Be careful at night. Standing water is harder to see in the dark, so slow down on roads that tend to flood.
Points, Tickets, and Florida’s BDI Option
Bad weather doesn’t excuse a traffic violation. Drivers can still be cited for things like following too closely or driving too fast for conditions. For many drivers who get a ticket, Florida law allows an election to attend a Basic Driver Improvement (BDI) course within 30 days instead of taking the points, with limits on who can elect it and how often. Our guide to Florida’s BDI option walks through the rules.
Please note: Defensive Drivers Institute’s Florida Basic Driver Improvement course is available only for citations issued in Orange County and Osceola County. The flooding described above was reported in Brevard County, which our course doesn’t serve. If your ticket came from Brevard or any county other than Orange or Osceola, we can’t accept your enrollment.
For Orange and Osceola County citations, the course is FLHSMV-approved, 100% online, and self-paced. It covers defensive driving techniques, Florida traffic laws, hazard recognition, and weather-related driving challenges, and your completion is reported directly to the court.
The Bottom Line
More rain may be on the way. When you see water over the road, don’t guess how deep it is. Turn around, find another route, or wait it out.
Got an Orange or Osceola County ticket? Elect BDI with the clerk within 30 days, then start the Florida BDI course.
