North Queensland is notorious for flooded roads during Wet Season, but unfortunately not enough people understand the risks of driving into flooded waters. As a result, many people lose their lives.
The Queensland Government has been running a campaign titled ‘If it’s Flooded, Forget It”, to educate people about the dangers of driving, riding or walking through flooded areas.
Too many people risk their lives by driving onto partially or fully flooded roads, then before they know it their car becomes stranded or worse, swept away in the fast flowing current of the flood waters.
It’s very difficult to judge how deep the water is on the roads, whether or not there is floating debris or even if the road has broken away.
Here are our top five reasons for avoiding flooded roads.
[headline size=”small” align=”left”]1. You could get swept away[/headline]
The more rain there is, the higher the water levels and the faster the flow of the current.
If you attempt to drive through this, the rush of water can actually lift your car and you end up losing traction.
Your vehicle is then at the mercy of the current and you lose all control of your vehicle.
It doesn’t matter what kind of car you drive, even if it is a 4WD, it can still be swept away in flood waters and you don’t want to be inside the vehicle if this happens.
[headline size=”small” align=”left”]2. Roads and bridges can be washed away[/headline]
The biggest problem here is that you can’t see the road has been washed away because it is covered by flood water.
Roads can also be badly damaged and partly washed away, leaving huge ditches and gaping holes which are impossible to drive or ride through or even walk over.
[headline size=”small” align=”left”]3. You could drown![/headline]
If you risk driving into floodwaters and you stall your car in the middle of a flooded road, either your car may be swept away by fast flowing water or you may need to vacate the vehicle and then be swept away yourself and drown.
You should also never try to walk through flood water to see if it is safe to drive through. As a result you put the lives of emergency service workers at risk as they often need to risk their own lives to save you.
[headline size=”small” align=”left”]4. Fast flowing debris.[/headline]
You can’t see what’s floating in the current or under the water because flood waters are usually a murky brown colour as it is full of dirt and mud.
If you risk driving through flood waters, especially fast flowing water, your vehicle can be hit by moving logs, trees, broken branches or sharp objects.
Depending on the force of the current, this debris may even help tip your car over so it is upside down or on its side, filling it with water and being swept away.
[headline size=”small” align=”left”]5. It’s just not worth it![/headline]
As the campaign ‘If it’s Flooded, Forget It’ states, it doesn’t matter what car you drive, if you have driven this particular stretch of road a thousand times before, if there is a queue of cars behind you on the road or even if other people are risking their lives driving through the flooded water.
Don’t do it!
It is just too dangerous and not worth losing your life over.
When flooding occurs and creeks and rivers break their banks in North Queensland, there is also the added risk of saltwater crocodiles (as well as snakes) ending up in flood waters.
The risks are too great so avoid flooded roads at all costs.
