Access three other student blogs – explain how this informed any new perspectives
After reading Larrys blog I was compelled to discuss the ongoing problem of people entering and driving through floodwaters.
As a member of the QFRS, recent training has a strong focus on swiftwater rescue. The government in conjunction with QFRS have also launched a media campaign surrounding the dangers of entering floodwaters.You may have seen the ads "If it's flooded, forget it" However, this remains a huge issue and many people are still ignoring the dangers. My question is WHY?
Is this issue about an individuals contextual lens. Like Larry said, do people see themselves as immortal, or do they have the mentality that "it wont happen to me"?
Like the photo below do some people believe that because they have a 4WD that the current will not be strong enough to carry them away?
Do people not realise the damage water can do to road surfaces, that are hidden when the road is flooded, as evidenced by the next photo?
AND, I think most importantly, how can we use the different contextual realities of individuals to develop programs and campaigns that improve awareness and stop people from entering floodwater.
What would stop YOU from driving through floodwaters??????
Photos shared from the QFRS facebook page
I couldn't agree more about the dangers of driving through floodwaters. As a member of the SES, it is a constant discussion and training topic for us in the lead up to storm seasons (especially with regard to floodboat tasks and techniques). However, I must admit that I too have been guilty of doing this on occasions.
ReplyDeleteThe first time was while working for Community Recovery in Bundaberg during the floods last year. While on a break, we went for a drive around the area to see the damage that had been done and came up to a road that had a small amount of flood water over it. You could still see the road beneath the water (even though the parks on either side were completely flooded), so we thought nothing of driving through it. We had literally not driven around for more than five minutes when we came back to this road we had just recently crossed and the floodwaters had risen to maybe a couple of feet of water. There was some discussion as to whether we should cross it, however upon seeing other cars crossing, our thinking that it was the only way back to where we needed to get to and the fact that we had just driven across that road less than five minutes before, we thought nothing of tackling it (very slowly, I might add). Shortly after we crossed it, the road was closed for safety reasons due to the rising levels of the water.
My point from this story is that false perceptions of safety may contribute to a persons reasoning for attempting to drive through flood waters. In our situation, it was that we had just recently (safely) driven the same stretch of road and also that there were other cars crossing that section which made it appear safe for us to proceed through it again, even though the flood waters had risen quite a bit in the short time between each crossing.
Another more recent instance was while I was working in Mitchell. We were on a break and drove out to see the weir there. Access to this weir was via dirt roads. The road that we entered from was dry and fine, but on the way out, we took another road that had a big puddle of water over it. Thinking it would be safe to cross (despite not knowing how deep it was or if there were any potholes underneath the brown muddy water), we ploughed through it, only to find the car drop slightly and start tilting to its side halfway through. Luckily our driver somehow managed to keep the vehicle upright and we got through, but shortly after we were alerted to our front number plate hanging by one screw. Clearly we had just driven through water that should have been avoided and had it been a less experienced driver, the outcome could have turned out quite differently. I never did find out how big or what type of hole lurked beneath that puddle of brown murky water, but it reinstated for me that if you start to question whether or not a certain route can be crossed, then it is probably best to take caution and seek alternative crossings.
Hi Jules,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply.
Your experience highlights the dangers and rapidly changing environment surrounding flood waters. Even with the background and knowledge you possess, the dangers can sometimes be worse than our initial perception.
Cheers,
Stacey