Australian Shop Owner Soaks Drivers Blocking His Driveway

A computer business owner in Rockhampton, Queensland, has installed a remote-controlled sprinkler system that soaks drivers who block the entrance to his premises. He says he turned to the system after police and local authorities did nothing to stop the problem.

Bruce Kerr said drivers visiting nearby businesses routinely left their cars across his entrance, preventing him and his staff from coming and going freely. At times, he said, around 20 drivers a day did so. Despite warning signs he put up, motorists kept using the space as makeshift parking, mostly to stay close to a neighboring business rather than walk from a car park a short distance away.

Kerr first tried the usual remedies. He spoke to the drivers, added more signs, contacted the police and sought help from local authorities. By his account, none of it made a meaningful difference.

He then installed a sprinkler system along the entrance, made up of water pipes, spray heads and an activation mechanism. When his security cameras show a vehicle blocking the way, he can turn on the sprinklers. Some of the spray heads are aimed at the driver's door, so a motorist stepping out of the car can be caught by an unexpected stream of water.

An Australian business owner's sprinkler system targets drivers who block his entrance (Photo: Social media)

Kerr operates the system from his workplace, so he does not have to leave the office or confront drivers. The security cameras record each incident, and he posts the footage online.

The videos do not always end in laughter. Some drivers try to dodge the spray and others hurry back to their vehicles. A few have reacted angrily and even tried to damage the system.

In one recorded case, a truck driver who was soaked by the sprinklers ended up in trouble at work. According to Australian media reports, his employer recognized him after the video spread online and realized he had reported being at a different work site when he had in fact driven to the location. He was fired as a result.

The unusual solution has been widely shared on social media. According to reports, it has also sharply reduced the number of drivers blocking the entrance, from about 20 a day before the system was installed to just two or three.