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    Driving through floodwater: Exploring driver decisions through the lived experience

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Hamilton, K.
    Peden, A.
    Keech, J.
    Hagger, Martin
    Date
    2019
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
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    Citation
    Hamilton, K. and Peden, A. and Keech, J. and Hagger, M. 2019. Driving through floodwater: Exploring driver decisions through the lived experience. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 34: pp. 346-355.
    Source Title
    International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
    DOI
    10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.12.019
    ISSN
    2212-4209
    School
    School of Psychology
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/73813
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    More than half of unintentional flood-related drowning deaths in Australia are due to driving through floodwater, despite on-going public campaigns. Currently, there is a knowledge gap in understanding why individuals choose to drive through floodwater and the decisions that may lead to such actions. We propose that a more complete understanding of individuals’ decisions to drive through floodwater needs to be considered in the context of the lived experience. Australian drivers (N = 20) who had intentionally driven through floodwater participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis based in an interpretivist approach. Past experience, individual perceptions (e.g., situation perceived as different to warnings), and the social and environmental context (e.g., pressure and encouragement from others, seeing other motorists driving through) emerged as major themes. Most salient was that although there was a common awareness of the risk posed by driving through flooded waterways, the decision to take this risk emerged as being heavily reliant on one's ability to construct a sense of self-efficacy in the lead-up to the incident. This study is the first to explore the lived experience of drivers who intentionally decided to drive through floodwater. Future research and public campaigns can draw on these findings to develop evidence-based interventions aimed at combating this risky driving behaviour.

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    • Drivers’ experiences during floods: Investigating the psychological influences underpinning decisions to avoid driving through floodwater
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      A major risk factor for many flood-related drownings is driving through floodwater. We aimed to understand Australian drivers’ experiences and beliefs with respect to avoid driving through floodwater using the theory of ...
    • Deciding to drive through floodwater: A qualitative analysis through the lived experience, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia & Griffith University
      Hamilton, Kyra; Peden, A.; Keech, J.; Hagger, Martin (2016)
      More than half of unintentional flood-related drowning deaths in Australia are due to driving through floodwater. Currently, there is a critical knowledge gap in understanding why individuals choose to drive through ...
    • The lived experience of rescuing people who have driven into floodwater: Understanding challenges and identifying areas for providing support
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      Background: Drowning is a major public health issue, with risk increasing during times of flood. Driving into floodwater is a major risk factor for flood‐related drowning and injury, and despite widespread public health ...
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