Abstract
AbstractThis study analyses the circumstances of vehicle‐related flood fatalities between 2001 and 2017, in Australia. The research identified 96 deaths from 74 incidents during this period. The aim of this analysis is to understand the demographic, spatial and temporal patterns, and the situational conditions in which those (n = 96) deaths have occurred. This is important for informing efficient and strategic risk reduction strategies to reduce vehicle related deaths and injuries in floodwater. Data were accessed from the Australian National Coronial Information System (NCIS), which includes witness and police statements, forensic documents, and detailed coronial findings. Analysis was conducted in two phases. In phase one, data were coded and categorised according to a range of factors previously identified as significant in vehicle‐related flood fatalities internationally. In phase two, a detailed analysis was conducted on 11 selected incidents for which there were complete sets of records. This detailed analysis provides insight into the multifaceted nature of fatal vehicle‐related flood fatality incidents. The overall results reveal that, for drivers, middle‐aged and elderly males are over‐represented in the fatality statistics. As passengers, young women and children are vulnerable. The study also identified deep floodwater with high flow contributes more to vehicle immersion, and the presence of alcohol and drugs, leading to impaired responses, reduces the chance of survival for the vehicle occupants.
Highlights
The final database contained the details of 96 individual vehicle-related flood fatalities in Australia that occurred between 2001 and 2017
The results of our analysis identified that the largest proportion of fatalities occurred in the evening and night when it was dark (50%, n = 37) which support a recent review study of previous research concerning vehiclerelated fatalities in Australia, Greece, and the United States which showed that most fatalities occurred at night (Ahmed et al, 2018)
This research contributes to our knowledge of the demographic, spatial, contextual, and temporal patterns of vehicle-related flood hazards by investigating 74 recent vehicle-related flood incidents in Australia
Summary
Vehicle-related incidents account for a significant proportion of flood fatalities globally (Ashley & Ashley, 2008; Diakakis & Deligiannakis, 2015; FitzGerald, Du, Jamal, Clark, & Hou, 2010; Jonkman & Kelman, 2005; Jonkman & Vrijling, 2008; Kellar & Schmidlin, 2012; Peden, Franklin, & Leggat, 2016; Terti, Ruin, Anquetin, & Gourley, 2015; Yale, Cole, Garrison, Runyan, & Ruback, 2003). In Australia, FitzGerald et al (2010) reported that between 1997 and 2008, 49% of flood fatalities were vehicle-related, Haynes et al (2017) identified 49% between 1900 and 2015. Recent research in Australia (Haynes et al, 2017; Peden, Franklin, Leggat, & Aitken, 2017) has documented and quantified vehicle-related flood fatalities; these studies have done so in the context of an investigation of all flood fatalities over an extended time frame, and gaps remain in our understanding of vehiclerelated flood deaths . This research provides a record of the spatial and temporal patterns and the environmental circumstances surrounding these fatal events and makes an important contribution to the growing international body of knowledge of how and why vehicle-related flood fatalities occur
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