The "taxpayer burden" is probably the dumbest argument in this whole issue. If
you fall out of your boat and drown it is probably the cheapest way for you to
die from a tax burden standpoint. Certainly a lot cheaper than the typical
10-15 years of illness that constitutes "natural causes".
People drowning before they reach 61.5 is probably the optimal situation if you
are really worried about the poor taxpayer. You paid into FICA/Medicare for 40+
years and didn't take a dime.

how many of the deaths were alchol related??? i'll bet most were.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
news:20040701201925.10996.00001027@mb-
Coast Guard statistics show that 750 boaters died in 2002. Eighty-five
percent
of those who drowned were not wearing PFDs

Which means what exactly? *Most* people don't wear life jackets. So it's
probably accurate to say that most people who get into any accident will not
be wearing a life jacket when they get into that accident. Why doesn't the
Coast Guard thus claim that life jackets prevent accidents? Because it
would be an absurd conclusion! Just as it's absurd to assume that those 85%
died *because* they weren't wearing their life jackets.

The only statistic that would be meaningful would be one that looks at the
fatality/non-fatality ratio of boaters who *were* wearing their life-jackets
at the time of death. Then we'd know if a mandatory PFD law will save any
lives.

450 a year is a statistically insignificant number.
While we are at it, why don't we factor in inexperience, suitability of the
boat to the conditions and intoxication. We will be down to "falling in the
bathtub" numbers ... but then we would have to wear helmets in the tub.
I do notice that these PFD rules always seem to exempt boats the size that
polititians own.
When the Bushes, Kerrys and Kennedys start wearing a PFD on their yachts I
will wear mine.

"NOYB" wrote in message ...
"Gould 0738" wrote in message
news:20040701201925.10996.00001027@mb-
Coast Guard statistics show that 750 boaters died in 2002. Eighty-five
percent
of those who drowned were not wearing PFDs

Which means what exactly? *Most* people don't wear life jackets. So it's
probably accurate to say that most people who get into any accident will not
be wearing a life jacket when they get into that accident. Why doesn't the
Coast Guard thus claim that life jackets prevent accidents? Because it
would be an absurd conclusion! Just as it's absurd to assume that those 85%
died *because* they weren't wearing their life jackets.

The only statistic that would be meaningful would be one that looks at the
fatality/non-fatality ratio of boaters who *were* wearing their life-jackets
at the time of death. Then we'd know if a mandatory PFD law will save any
lives.

Surely you aren't so dimwitted that you don't think PFD's save lives, are you?

Coast Guard statistics show that 750 boaters died in 2002. Eighty-five
percent
of those who drowned were not wearing PFDs

Surely you aren't so dimwitted that you don't think PFD's save lives, are
you?

It didn't do much for 112 of them.
Making 60 million people wear PFDs *might* save 450 lives (based on the
government estimate). That sure sounds like a lot of government intrusion for
very little benefit.
They would do a lot better if they made passengers in cars wear helmets. Try to
get that law passed

In article ,
(Greg) wrote:

Coast Guard statistics show that 750 boaters died in 2002. Eighty-five
percent
of those who drowned were not wearing PFDs

Surely you aren't so dimwitted that you don't think PFD's save lives, are
you?

It didn't do much for 112 of them.
Making 60 million people wear PFDs *might* save 450 lives (based on the
government estimate). That sure sounds like a lot of government intrusion for
very little benefit.
They would do a lot better if they made passengers in cars wear helmets. Try
to
get that law passed

How many people were saved by PFDs? Forget the governments estimate.
We'll never know, because most of them simply climbed out of the water
and went about their business and never reported the incident. I'll bet
it was FAR more than 450 in any given year.

I wrecked my Harley years ago, split my helmet in two pieces, on
Interstate 35 at 70+. I walked away, pushing my hog, and never reported
it either.

Two years ago my neighbor was driving his Suburban down our county road,
unbelted. Based on the investigation, he got his right side tires into
the bar ditch, compensated by steering left, crossing the one lane paved
road into the left side bar ditch. The small jostling of the vehicle in
the left bar ditch ejected him out his driver's side window, where he
struck a mesquite tree at 55 miles per hour, then fell to the ground. He
died instantly. The Suburban continued down the county road for two
hundred and fifty yards before crossing back across the blacktop to the
right and continuing through a five strand barb-wire fence and brush for
another 100 yards before coming to a stop in thick brush. The vehicle
was undamaged except for minor cosmetic damage. A helmet did him no good.

My mother is a triage nurse in California. I once asked her what the
most disturbing thing she ever saw was. She told me of a young man who
dropped his motorcycle on the freeway. Before he could get up he was
struck by a car and dragged for several hundred feet. He was wearing his
helmet, but he was face down while being dragged. The helmet kept his
face in contact with the asphalt, removing his face, entirely. He
survived, unfortunately.

PFDs work, so do helmets and seat belts, but they are NOT a panacea for
accidents. **** happens.

PFDs work, so do helmets and seat belts, but they are NOT a panacea for
accidents. **** happens.

Exactly! If NTSB wants a law that works, require that PFDs are kept accessible
and in good condition. That's enough.
I am the first one to say that when you are in imminent danger you should put
on your PFD but it is stupid to tell me I need to wear one when I an putting
around the back bay at the state mandated "slow speed" in 4 feet of water (or
less). In most of the Estero Bay you can walk ashore if the boat sunk.

Coast Guard statistics show that 750 boaters died in 2002. Eighty-five
percent
of those who drowned were not wearing PFDs







According to NTSB statistics, 100% of passengers killed in commercial airline
crashes were not wearing parachutes.

I guess we should be looking into that....

According to NTSB statistics, 100% of passengers killed in commercial airline
crashes were not wearing parachutes.

I guess we should be looking into that....

Parachutes don't improve your safety on a commercial flight.

They can be useful, however, when leaping out of a plane.

More people will survive falling off a boat without a PFD than will survive
falling out of an airplane without a parachute.