That middle-of-the-night rainstorm last week took us all by surprise, especially the weather forecasters.

Heavy though it was, at least by current dry standards, the rainfall did not collect into any major puddles in my neighborhood.

Not so where Janet Rockey lives in Palma Ceia. Flooded streets are a typical problem there, she explained in a recent e-mail, and drivers of monster SUVs often make the problem worse.

I’ve seen it firsthand.

Someone seated high behind the wheel of a large truck or SUV rounds a corner to face a street under water, a veritable lake. And instead of backing up to find an alternate route, the drivers plow forward as fast as they can, kicking up spray and leaves and dirt in their stubbornness.

Rockey put it best: “Drivers of high profile vehicles think they should plow through the flooded streets simply because they can. The ability to do something doesn’t always give license to do it.”

Indeed.

After last week’s rain, Rockey said wakes from these passing vehicles washed squares of freshly laid sod into the street and sent water shooting toward her neighbors’ homes.

This thoughtlessness can not only create problems for homeowners; it also poses safety hazards.

Vehicles who fail to finish their course and stall out in deep water are often stuck there after roads dry up, waiting for busy tow trucks to exact a rescue.
Meanwhile, other motorists are forced to navigate around these awkwardly positioned obstacles, often for a full day.

Rockey also pointed to a February storm that submerged streets and opened a large pothole on Himes Avenue between Plant High School and Bay to Bay Boulevard.

Hidden beneath standing water, the hole presented a danger to drivers who insisted on foraging through the flood.

“Hitting a hole that size with your front tire can toss even the best SUV into the flow of oncoming traffic,” Rockey wrote.

Here’s a simple rule of thumb: If you cannot see the street, don’t drive on it.

There is almost always a way around – or at least a dry place to sit and wait. It may not be convenient, but it’s the smart thing to do.

To make matters worse, flooding is often accompanied by inoperable traffic lights.

If a traffic signal goes out, treat the intersection the same way you would treat a four-way stop.

To report nonworking signals, call 622-1940 within Tampa city limits. If in Hillsborough County outside city limits, call 744-5670, or call 231-6130 for nonemergency dispatch.

More hazards await us when the rain really starts to come down next month. Please be careful and considerate of your fellow motorists.

A little courtesy could go a long way.

Send rants and raves about South Tampa traffic to Mitzi Gordon at