Vehicle-related flood fatalities in Greece

This work focuses on the analysis of vehicle-related flood fatalities in Greece, in an effort to provide a better understanding on the circumstances under which they occur. Therefore, an inventory of 60 fatalities associated with the use of vehicles, induced during 37 flood events between 1970 and 2010, was studied. To this end, we developed a database consisting of variables that provided a systematic description of the circumstances under which each incident occurred, including details of the surrounding environment, the road infrastructure, specifics on the incident and demographic details of the involved individuals. Analysis showed an increase in vehicle-related cases over the period of study, with the majority of the incidents occurring after 1990. Males, and individuals between 40 and 69 years old, showed an increased representation among both the drivers and the victims, although the latter showed an overrepresentation of young individuals as well. Most events occurred during nighttime and in rural areas of the country. With respect to the surroundings, most cases occurred on paved road network and bridges that proved vulnerable to flooding phenomena. In a significant number of cases, fatal incidents occurred on paved river crossings, constructed on the riverbed of usually dry torrents or waterways. Drowning was found to be the primary cause of death. Analysis of the drivers’ actions, exactly before the incident, showed that in the majority of occasions, they chose to enter into flooded areas, either to travel across or to save someone, or recover something. In some cases, vehicle occupants found themselves in a hazardous position when floodwaters rose unexpectedly, giving them no chance to avoid danger. It was therefore found that drivers, pursued an active, rather than a passive, stance in the majority of incidents, attributed, in certain occasions, to an underestimation of risk.