Advice during forecasted heavy rain

Press release - 29 June 2007

Shropshire County Council is offering advice to people on how to stay safe, following a Met Office warning of heavy rain across the county this weekend.

Given that the ground is saturated following recent floods, there is potential for further disruption. Unsettled conditions are also forecast to continue into next week.

Steve Chadwick, Shropshire County Council’s senior road safety officer, said: "With heavy rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday we are offering the following advice to local people:

• Stay indoors as much as possible during the severe weather.
• Drive carefully, leave space between you and the vehicle in front so that you can pull up safely if the vehicle in front of you suddenly slows down or stops. At 30mph in dry conditions it takes 23 metres (75 feet) about 6 car lengths to stop. In wet weather the stopping distance will be doubled. Only make essential journeys.
• Never try to drive through flood water — 80% of flood deaths occur in vehicles.
• Avoid walking through flood water, streams or rivers in full flow — just six inches of rapidly moving water can knock a person over.
• If there is disruption to power supplies people are advised to contact their local service provider."

For further information and updates people are advised to visit the Shropshire County Council website and/or listen to their local radio station.

Ends

For media contact, call Laura Owen, Communications Officer, Economy & Environment on (01743) 253318.