Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has moved to introduce a Private Members Bill to create an offence of deliberately and recklessly driving through flood waters.

The Member of Parliament addressed the Legislative Assembly on Friday 20th June, proposing the Road Transport Amendment (Driving Through Floodwaters) 2024, which states that reckless driving through flood waters be deterred through fining offenders. 

Mr Ward announced that under the proposal, revenue collected from offending drivers feed directly back into the NSW State Emergency Services. 

“Every year, we continue to hear the pleas of emergency services and political leaders. If it’s flooded, forget it. But with flood events becoming more frequent, we continue to see people risk their own lives and the lives of volunteer emergency service personnel by driving through flood waters,” Mr Ward said.

Seven motorists were recently rescued by state emergency services in Shoalhaven after floods hit the region this month. 

Research from the Royal Life Saving Society showed between 2004 to 2015, 159 drowning deaths were known to have involved flooding across Australia, and half of these resulted from driving through floodwaters.

“People wouldn’t drive into a bushfire. Why on earth do people think its ok to drive into flood waters when you don’t know the depth or velocity, particularly at night,” Mr Ward said.

If you find yourself in a life-threatening situation with flood waters, call 000.

For emergency help in floods call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500.