Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017
Abstract This 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 situationa...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12616 |
| _version_ | 1828433272961499136 |
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| author | Mozumdar A. Ahmed Katharine Haynes Mel Taylor |
| author_facet | Mozumdar A. Ahmed Katharine Haynes Mel Taylor |
| author_sort | Mozumdar A. Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:33:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e19f31ac8a044cc8aa63a79838fb2998 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-318X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:33:00Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-e19f31ac8a044cc8aa63a79838fb29982022-12-22T01:37:54ZengWileyJournal of Flood Risk Management1753-318X2020-09-01133n/an/a10.1111/jfr3.12616Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017Mozumdar A. Ahmed0Katharine Haynes1Mel Taylor2Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University Sydney AustraliaBushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre Melbourne Victoria AustraliaDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University Sydney AustraliaAbstract This 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.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12616driverdrowningfatalitiesfloodnatural hazardpassenger |
| spellingShingle | Mozumdar A. Ahmed Katharine Haynes Mel Taylor Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017 Journal of Flood Risk Management driver drowning fatalities flood natural hazard passenger |
| title | Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017 |
| title_full | Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017 |
| title_fullStr | Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017 |
| title_short | Vehicle‐related flood fatalities in Australia, 2001–2017 |
| title_sort | vehicle related flood fatalities in australia 2001 2017 |
| topic | driver drowning fatalities flood natural hazard passenger |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12616 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mozumdaraahmed vehiclerelatedfloodfatalitiesinaustralia20012017 AT katharinehaynes vehiclerelatedfloodfatalitiesinaustralia20012017 AT meltaylor vehiclerelatedfloodfatalitiesinaustralia20012017 |