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Investigating Willingness to Drive Through Floods and Bushfires: a Content Analysis and Discrete Choice Survey

Tracks
Prince Room
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
11:40 AM - 12:00 PM

Overview

Sara Fazeli, UNSW


Details

Key Presentation Learnings: 1. Insights from real-life driving behaviours in floods and bushfires – Analysis of YouTube videos of individuals driving in floods and bushfires reveals common justifications and themes in risky driving, informing risk communication strategies. 2. Factors influencing risky driving in floods and bushfires – Examining how factors such as risk perception, social influences, vehicle type, and environmental conditions impact decisions to drive through floods and bushfires. 3. Improving public safety and preparedness through policy and risk communication – Findings support targeted public safety campaigns and policy frameworks designed to bolster community preparedness and mitigate unsafe driving during natural hazards, thereby enhancing community resilience.


Speaker

Ms Sara Fazeli
PhD Candidate
UNSW

Investigating willingness to drive through floods and bushfires: A content analysis and discrete choice survey

Abstract

Floods and bushfires are among the most prevalent natural hazards in Australia. During these emergencies, individuals often drive to evacuate; however, driving through floodwaters and bushfire-affected areas poses significant risks to both individuals and emergency responders. Understanding the factors influencing driver decision-making in these hazardous situations is crucial for improving risk communication and policy interventions. This study integrates content analysis of YouTube videos with a discrete choice survey to assess willingness to drive through floods and bushfires. The content analysis examined real-life driving behaviour in flood and bushfire conditions, using data extracted from 183 flood and 116 bushfire YouTube videos. This analysis helped identify common themes, perceptions, and justifications related to risk-taking behaviour in hazardous driving conditions. These insights informed the design of a discrete choice survey to quantify the effects of key factors—such as risk perception, vehicle type, environmental conditions, time pressure, and social influences—on individuals’ driving decisions. The survey, conducted among 1250 Australian residents, presented respondents with hypothetical driving scenarios involving floodwaters and bushfires, requiring them to choose between different alternatives with varying levels of risk and contextual factors. Using discrete choice modelling, the relative importance of the factors influencing risky driving behaviours was estimated. Findings suggest that floodwater level/fire intensity, observing others driving, familiarity with the road, and confidence in vehicle capabilities significantly impact willingness to drive through hazardous conditions. By integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches, this research enhances understanding of risk perception and decision-making in extreme weather conditions. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, emergency management agencies, and risk communicators, informing targeted public safety campaigns and policy frameworks to mitigate the risks associated with driving through floods and bushfires.

Biography

Sara Fazeli is a final year PhD candidate at the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) at the UNSW Sydney. She earned her bachelor's and master’s in urban planning with honours from Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. After that, she worked as an urban and transport planner at the Transportation and Traffic Research Centre of Shiraz University on several sub-projects within the broader projects of Shiraz City Comprehensive Transport Plan and the Shiraz City Subway Lines Plan. Her PhD research centres on individual preparedness in response to flood and bushfire emergencies.
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