A361 closed again between East Lyng and Burrowbridge due to rising flood water levels

One of the main roads through Somerset has been closed once again by heavy floods. The A361 Taunton to Ashcott road is one of the main thoroughfares for commuters and visitors to the Street and Glastonbury area from the South West, but heavy rains have rendered it impassible on and off since the beginning of November. After heavy rain last night, the road has again been closed between East Lyng and Burrowbridge because of rising water on the road. Emergency services are urging people not to ignore the road closure signs, and have issued the following warnings to drivers about driving in flood water:

The A361 has been closed again between East Lyng and Burrowbridge

If you come across flood water, don't drive through it if you are unsure of the depth. Try to ensure there is no more than six inches of standing water - the edge of the kerb is a good indicator
Look out for hidden dips and gullies where the water could be deeper
If you believe it is safe to proceed, drive very slowly and steadily on the crown of the road in first gear to avoid creating a bow wave. Keep your revs high, slipping the clutch to avoid stalling
Allow oncoming traffic to pass first and test your brakes as soon as you can after leaving the water
Don't try driving through fast-moving water, such as at a flooded bridge approach - your car could easily be swept away
Be considerate - driving through water at speeds above a slow crawl can result in water being thrown onto pavements, soaking pedestrians or cyclists. You could face a fine of £2,500, with the extra punishment of between three and nine penalty points if the police believe you were driving without reasonable consideration to other road users
Modern vehicles are fitted with catalytic converters in the exhaust system. The catalyst normally works at high temperatures and may crack if it is submerged in water
The air intake on many modern cars is located low down at the front of the engine bay and it only takes a small quantity of water sucked into the engine to cause serious damage.

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