Flood driving a death trap

A Queensland University of Queensland (QUT) study has found that use of a motor vehicle was involved in almost half (48.5 per cent) of the 73 deaths directly related to flooding in Australia from 1997 to 2008. Most of the deaths were during summer in coastal Queensland and New South Wales.

The study also found that more than 90 per cent of the flood-related deaths resulted from individual choices to either engage in inappropriate risk-taking or enter flooded waterways on foot on in a vehicle. Most were not trapped by floods.

Professor Gerry FitzGerald, of QUT's School of Public Health, said four out of 10 deaths (39.7 per cent) were associated with driving motor vehicles across flooded waterways or roadways, despite public warnings to avoid them. Another 8.8 per cent involved the collapse of a flooded roadway.

Shop Cars

Search all cars

Search all cars

"Drivers often underestimate the force of flowing water and its capacity to dislodge relatively large vehicles," Professor FitzGerald said. "An average car is 6-8 sqm in surface area, and a displacement of 10-20cm of water above the bottom of the chassis will cause the car to float and therefore be washed away."

Professor FitzGerald said drivers of 4WDs sometimes had a misplaced sense of confidence in their vehicle. "Four wheel-drives are a heavier vehicle but they have a bigger surface area," he said. "If you go in deep enough and displace enough water, you will float."

"It may be a pain to sit on the bank of a flooded creek, and it may take another three days, but you will get home safely," he said.