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Tips for the unexpected
Here's what to do if your car stalls while you're driving through a
puddle:
STORY TOOLS 
More from Other News- Get out of the car, go to a safe place and call for help. Make sure you are in a place where you can't be struck by another vehicle.
- If the car is blocking the road, call 911 and explain that your car is a traffic hazard.
How do you know which puddles are safe to go through, and which aren't?
"There's no magic answer," said Steve Reid, public information officer with the California Highway Patrol in Ventura. Generally speaking, if the water level is high enough to get into your car's engine compartment, don't go through it. However, Reid pointed out that in such situations with a lot on their minds -- and especially at night -- people often can't tell if water in front of them is a foot high or six feet high.
Reid's general guidelines:
- If it looks too deep, don't try it. If you have to think about whether it's too deep, it's probably too deep.
- If you come across a puddle that's too deep, take an alternate route, even if that means being late to a destination.
- Try to notice where water is collecting on the road (generally the sides), and avoid those. The whole idea is to avoid the puddle situation in the first place.
If stranded, what should you keep in the car?
If you don't have to drive in such weather, don't.
- Before you set out, make sure your car is in good working order -- tires, oil level, enough gas, windshield wipers, fluid levels, etc.
- Take along a cell phone.
- An emergency kit is also suggested, containing, including blankets, drinking water, snacks, flashlight and flares.
- Having some form of auto service, such as AAA, is recommended.
- If your vehicle can move, get it over to the right shoulder of the road, call for help and stay inside. Do not go into the center divider.
- If you can't move the vehicle, get out of the car, go to right shoulder and call for help.
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