Safeguarding roads during flood season: The critical role of real-time technology in flood management and road safety

As we mark Road Safety Week amid increasing weather unpredictability, it’s more evident than ever that flooding poses a significant hazard to road safety. Every year, over 1,700 lives are lost on UK roads, and 30,000 are seriously injured.

In 2024, the UK has witnessed over 4,850 flood alerts within the year’s first quarter alone, setting records and underscoring the urgent need for resilient flood management solutions. 

For local authorities, emergency responders, and the public, effective flood management can save lives and ensure safer journeys. This article delves into how Causeway is helping authorities across the UK with proactive flood management, improving driver safety, and keeping communities informed when it matters most.

The Flooding Challenge: Rising Waters, Rising Risks

Flooding, exacerbated by changing weather patterns, continues to increase across the UK. The last 18 months have been the wettest on record in the UK, and the UK's flood defences are at their most vulnerable. For counties like Derbyshire, where natural features like the Peak District amplify flooding risks, road safety demands quick and precise communication. Derbyshire County Council (DCC), equipped with Causeway one.network’s Live Link, exemplifies proactive flood response. By sending instant updates about road closures and alternative routes directly to major sat-nav apps, DCC effectively guides drivers away from danger and congestion.

The importance of road closure communication during floods was particularly highlighted during events like Storm Babet in 2023, when roads needed to be rapidly closed to ensure public safety. Since then and throughout 2024, local authorities have issued over 450 road closures due to flooding via Live Link, helping to communicate critical, real-time updates to keep drivers safe.

Proactive Flood Management with Digital Tools

For any local authority, accurate flood management is a multi-faceted operation, encompassing real-time monitoring, prompt decision-making, and continuous communication with the public. Causeway one.network offers several modules that facilitate effective flood response:

1. Live Link: This tool’s ability to close roads from the roadside makes it indispensable for field teams. With one tap, teams in Derbyshire and other flood-prone areas communicate closures to all major sat-nav apps in real-time, rerouting drivers safely. This technology significantly minimises confusion, congestion, and the risk of road-user incidents by keeping drivers informed of changing conditions as they unfold. 
2. Network Monitor: A crucial asset during floods, Network Monitor provides real-time congestion and disruption data to control centers, enabling them to react swiftly to bottlenecks and flooded routes. With TomTom data integration, traffic patterns can be monitored in real-time, allowing authorities to identify critical routes impacted by water accumulation and act immediately to divert traffic. 
3. Traffic Management and Content Management: During flood season, communicating road safety information is paramount. With our Traffic Management module, authorities can publish flood incident data and road closures on the Causeway one.network map and embed a custom map on their websites to keep residents informed. Then, using Content Management, authorities can populate these flood incidents and closures with updates and notifications in clear, jargon-free language to help improve public understanding.   

Local authorities should also consider using digital solutions like Causeway Flow to optimise designs of retrofit sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in urban areas. This can help manage increased surface water and reduce the risk of collisions on the road network.  

Real-Time Solutions for Real-World Flooding Challenges

By integrating real-time data, digital road closure updates, and accessible public information channels, Causeway one.network not only enables seamless flood response but also supports ongoing improvements in road safety. These digital solutions work together to ensure that residents and road users are not only informed of immediate risks but are also encouraged to take safer, well-routed journeys in all weather conditions.

In an era marked by frequent weather challenges, Causeway’s mission to “make construction flow” includes protecting the roads that connect us, even in times of crisis. As floods become more common, the public, local authorities, and emergency services are reassured by the knowledge that Causeway one.network’s technologies offer clear, proactive responses to safeguard our roads and keep communities connected.

For more on how Derbyshire County Council navigates flood challenges with Live Link, read our full case study here.