The message couldn't be clearer. " Never drive, cycle or walk through floodwater "! Australia is a big continent and there is a certain inevitability about rain storms happening on a regular basis from the Pacific Ocean coast to the waters of the Indian Ocean in our west. With little warning we may encounter flooded streets in a city or covered country roads - and the rising death toll seems relentless.
Friday's Queensland storm saw five people die in their vehicles as they tried to cross a flooded causeway. This involved three vehicles, and significantly two were four wheel drives and the other a heavy utility. Perhaps the advertising for the popular SUV range is leading owners into danger. The image portrayed is a "go anywhere " vehicle and the pictures shown usually feature "grunt "- and making light work of almost impossible terrain.
What is depressing to police and SES crews is the reckless indifference many drivers display to signs that roads are closed or warning indicators of depth. So many people have a selfish desire to continue their journey despite the obstacles and in many cases this involves someone else risking their own life in a rescue attempt.
Floodwaters can be deceptive. The depth may be within the capability of the vehicle, but if that water is flowing fast it completely alters the picture. Flood crests are an added danger and the only finality that applies to a flood situation is "expect the unexpected " !
This year we have seen an unusual number of cyclones cross the Australian coast and there have been an above average number of storm events delivering heavy rain. It is quite possible that this is geared to global warming and some scientists predict that we will encounter a raised storm cycle in the years ahead. Flooded roads has always been an Australian experience - and it seems that we had better learn to live with it.
The big question is - how do we achieve that end ? The television nightly news shows drivers barging through city streets inundated by sudden rain - and all it takes is one vehicle to stall and block the flow. There will usually be a time gap before barricades can be erected to close country roads and in many cases drivers either remove them or outflank them to continue their journey. It seems that an attitude of defiance prevails wherever it involves floodwater. Drivers insist in making their own evaluation - and taking that final decision.
It seems to be a fact of life that making people obey laws is dependent on extracting a penalty for disobedience. The obvious deterrance would be a refusal of insurance cover whenever a vehicle is deliberately driven through a flood and suffers loss or damage. That would not apply to parked vehicles caught in a flood and would specifically come into force whenever a vehicle was driven past a road closed barrier.
It seems that it may take a financial penalty to reduce what are certainly otherwise preventable deaths !
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