Flooding is the most common natural disaster in Australia and causes great loss of life. Unfortunately, most fatalities occur because people underestimate the danger they are in or are entering into. But some simple understanding of the nature of floodwater could easily save a life.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in Australia and causes great loss of life. Unfortunately, most fatalities occur because people underestimate the danger they are in or are entering into. But some simple understanding of the nature of floodwater could easily save a life.

Flood conditions change rapidly and it is usually difficult to tell the speed of the current. The lack of water visibility conceals hazards that could trap or injure you, as well as concealing the quality of the road which may be severely degraded by the water.

Drivers also underestimate how little water is needed to move a car. An average car with a surface area of 6–8m2 needs only 10–20cm of water above the bottom of the chassis before it is lifted off the road surface and washed away. Debris and the speed of the water make attempting to drive through floodwaters extremely hazardous.

http://www.royallifesaving.com.au/facts-and-figures/key-facts/locations/flooding

Royal Life Saving Society – Australia developed this video infographic to educate the community on the risks, consequences and the social impact of driving through floodwater.