Police Scotland's Roads Policing Unit have tweeted a shocking photo of the aftermath of a crash at the Edinburgh end of the M8, which took place this morning (30 May).
The accident happened in this morning near Junction 2 after several days of heavy rain and wet weather in Edinburgh left the M8 and other roads covered in areas of standing water.
The vehicle is thought to have 'aquaplaned', skidding across the carriageway before ending up upside down at the side of the road.
Officers shared two photos: one of the vehicle immediately after the accident, and another of the car being taken away by a police recovery unit, still upside down, with the interior obscured.
In their tweet, the police said:
"#WestLothianRP attended a call on the M8 this morning near junction 2. A car left the carriageway after hitting standing water. Please alter your driving style to changes in the weather. Always be vigilant when there has been heavy rain otherwise the consequences could be fatal."
The RAC have the following advice for people about driving in wet weather and floods:
- Firstly, slow down! Reduce your speed and leave more space between you and the vehicle in front as stopping distances in rain are increased
- Use dipped headlights so that other drivers can see you more easily
- Don’t use rear fog lights. They can mask your brake lights and dazzle drivers behind you
- Look out for large or fast-moving vehicles creating spray which reduces visibility
- Also remember to keep your air conditioning on, as this will stop your windows from misting up - furthermore, you can read our full advice page on how to demist your windscreen in double-quick time
- Listen out for local news bulletins to keep up-to-date with road closures, flooding and forecasts
- If you break down in torrential rain keep the bonnet closed while waiting for help to arrive, to avoid the electrical system getting soaked
- Driving too fast through standing water could lead to tyres losing contact with the road. If your steering suddenly feels light you could be aquaplaning. To regain grip, ease off the accelerator, do not brake and allow your speed to reduce until you gain full control of the steering again
- Driving fast through deep water can cause serious and expensive damage
- Be considerate to other road users and try not to spray pedestrians and cyclists as you drive through water
You can read more here.
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