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Photo © 2008 Janet Barth, used with permission
"Be prepared" is the watchword - the national newspapers carry weather reports and predictions and will give flood warnings and feature reports on major road closures. Unfortunately they are "old hat" by the time you read them.
More up to date would be reports on national radio stations like RTÉ or Today FM. Weather reports are usually given with the news on the hour (or half hour). Road traffic reports are less frequent.
The most recent information can be found on the internet - for weather information surf to the Met Eireann website. Traffic information is continuously updated at AA Roadwatch - which also has an excellent route planner in case you have to reschedule.
Check the Car
Trust me, you do not want to get stranded in floods - even if you are outside the reach of the rising water, it may be some hours or even days before a tow truck arrives.
Essentials to check are:
- Tires - are all five properly inflated? Yes, check the spare as well. And the tools to change a tire.
- Gas - hit the nearest station to fill the tank before you head out.
- Lights - not do much to see but to be seen.
- Windscreen wash - driving on wet roads can be extremely dirty business and you'll hit the "wash-wipe" button very often.
Charge Your Cellphone
If you carry your cellphone with you, make sure its fully charged and that you have call credit (if on prepay). It might be your lifeline in the middle of nowhere. Maybe invest in an in-car-charger? These can now be bought for less than a fiver from "third parties".
Do Not Trust Your Satellite Navigation
Satnav devices are dumb - they'll lead you right into the maelstrom if you trust them blindly. There currently is no system that will incorporate road closures or spot flooding in real time. Never assume that because your satnav sends you down a road it will be safe. Always drive slower in heavy rain, be extremely alert and watch for tell-tale signs of danger.
Observe Oncoming Traffic
Spare a second to observe oncoming drivers, they might give optical signals that are meant to warn you. If for instance you pass a motorist that is slowly waving his hand up and down, he might advise you to slow down.
This might be due to a puddle of epic proportions, cattle or debris on the road or a speed-trap. Every now and then you’ll also slow down because somebody directed a fantasy orchestra or petted his border collie. But better safe than sorry.
Slow Down, Now
Ireland's roads are not built perfectly flat and not designed to be self-draining at all times. That means that a film of a few millimetres of water will often stay on the surface for long times. This is where the danger of aquaplaning starts. Slow down, especially in poor visibility.
When you hit such a film at 50 mph in a curve the resulting ride will be wilder tan anything on About.com's Theme Parks site. Only you won’t be able to buy a t-shirt and a photo afterwards.
Never Underestimate a Puddle
What looks like a normal, albeit large, puddle to you may conceal anything from a bend in the road to a king-size pothole. Drive slow and you'll be safer. And minimize the risk of water damage due to spray.
Floods: Stop ... And Think Twice
Only locals know what actually is hidden by a flood - so you might be heading straight for a riverbed on what you thought to be a safe course.
There also is the danger of the floods being quite deep. Which will, sooner rather than later, lead to your car's electrical or mechanical systems interacting with water in several interesting ways. All terminal. And this will lead to your insurance asking interesting questions, including some pertaining to your mental state of health.
By the way - SUV does not equal submarine in aquatic capabilities.
Take a Detour
Unless you are totally sure that you can make it on your planned without risk, you should consider a safer detour if possible. Again local knowledge is priceless here. Or a decent road map, much more practical than satnav systems when planning a safe route on higher ground.
The beauty of driving in Ireland is that you are rarely on the one and only road from A to B. The "back roads" might take you there as well, via C and Mother McCree's cottage (take a left where her cow died in 1964).
Finally ... Is Your Journey Really Necessary?
If you decide to drive in bad weather, you are putting yourself, your passengers and other road users in danger. Only to arrive at a sight you can’t properly enjoy or even see. And people climbing Slieve League in torrential rain are beyond reason in my opinion.
Get out your guidebook of choice and choose an alternative agenda. Or ask at your lodgings for hints. Re-plan your day if it is simply too bad to enjoy as you originally planned it.
