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Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education
Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators. The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room, 700 16th Street, Sacramento. "There is no question that California's boating accidents and fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?" The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters, representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies, boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said. Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006. Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating accidents and fatalities." "Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California. Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan said. More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California. "I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to do this now," she said. A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association. Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened," he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to consensus and move this forward." The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said. In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80 percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said. The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education legislation has to come from the boating community," said David Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation." The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments. - 30 - If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety course. |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message ups.com... Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education Excellent! |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
This seems to be one of the perpetual boating discussion topics in
Finland as well. We still live in a free wild world, though there has been some effort in building a formal education system. One fear is that if the authorities get involved in setting up the system it will introduce quite a bit of costs to burden boaters. Therefore our safety courses are run by volunteer organizations, which is a typical situation for many boating related services in Finland. In many EU countries the regulations are stricter, so one goal of our education system is providing the necessary certification for pleasure boaters who want to rent a boat abroad. Piloting larger/powerful vessels involves stricter regulations, though it seems our fatalities concentrate on small motor boats (and rowboats). Alcohol is a high risk factor. It could also be good to have education for some boaters about not creating disturbing waves, what is a safe distance for overtaking, etc. But a question remains how much this is dependent on knowledge and how much on attitudes and does a mandatory education system bring benefits equal to the incurred overhead. Risto |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaterssoon...
Chuck Gould wrote:
Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators. The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room, 700 16th Street, Sacramento. "There is no question that California's boating accidents and fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?" The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters, representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies, boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said. Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006. Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating accidents and fatalities." "Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California. Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan said. More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California. "I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to do this now," she said. A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association. Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened," he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to consensus and move this forward." The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said. In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80 percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said. The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education legislation has to come from the boating community," said David Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation." The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments. - 30 - If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety course. Chuck, I think it is a good idea. My kids had to take 30 hrs of drivers education, and I had to sign off on "X" number of hours of supervised driving under their learners permit. I know the government won't pass a perfect law, but our current system of allowing people on the waterways without any knowledge of boating safety or Rules of the Road is crazy. All you need to do is go out on any Saturday and you can see the reason why 80% support some form of mandatory boating safety edu. Recently, it seems more states are raising the minimum age of driving to 18, another good idea. -- Reggie That's my story and I am sticking to it! |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
Chuck Gould wrote: Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education **********************************snip************ ****************************** Oregon passed mandatory boater education several years ago. It is being phased in over a few years by age group. It is quite easy to pass, the test is open book and can be done online in an hour or two. One needs to merely have the test open in one browser and the manual open in another. Have my doubts about the effectiveness Dennis |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
"Varis" wrote in message oups.com... This seems to be one of the perpetual boating discussion topics in Finland as well. We still live in a free wild world, though there has been some effort in building a formal education system. One fear is that if the authorities get involved in setting up the system it will introduce quite a bit of costs to burden boaters. By all means the beaurocratic BS must be kept to a minimum and the education should be immediately available to all and free. No one wants to buy their boat, or God help us a PWC, then spend the summer taking a class before they can put the boat in the water! I see 2 levels of certification: a mandatory quickie information only computer course before registration of the vehicle can occur and a longer voluntary hands on course. |
To Reggie or whoever you are these days
Harry Krause wrote:
The camera shop guy says he has 100 of those lenses on order, expects a "big box" within the next month, has a waiting list of about 20 names, and is selling them at $699.99. It's a large camera store in Bal'mer. If you have a legit email, and you are interested, I'll send you the details. Harry, Thanks, Send the info to . -- Reggie That's my story and I am sticking to it! |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: Chuck Gould wrote: Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators. The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room, 700 16th Street, Sacramento. "There is no question that California's boating accidents and fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?" The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters, representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies, boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said. Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006. Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating accidents and fatalities." "Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California. Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan said. More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California. "I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to do this now," she said. A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association. Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened," he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to consensus and move this forward." The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said. In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80 percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said. The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education legislation has to come from the boating community," said David Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation." The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments. - 30 - If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety course. Chuck, I think it is a good idea. My kids had to take 30 hrs of drivers education, and I had to sign off on "X" number of hours of supervised driving under their learners permit. I know the government won't pass a perfect law, but our current system of allowing people on the waterways without any knowledge of boating safety or Rules of the Road is crazy. All you need to do is go out on any Saturday and you can see the reason why 80% support some form of mandatory boating safety edu. Recently, it seems more states are raising the minimum age of driving to 18, another good idea. -- Reggie That's my story and I am sticking to it! I agree, I support this kind of thing, seems like a no-brainer to me. In states that have instituted similar requirements, deaths and accidents have gone down, that seems well worth any slight extra hassle or cost. (The courses in New York are just eight hours of classroom time and are free from Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary; enormously beneficial to complete boating newbies and it seems to me that even boaters with some experience might learn or be reminded of a thing or two or at least get a good chance to share their own experience and knowledge and contribute productively to the discussion.) I found it a perfectly enjoyable excuse to get out of the house for an hour or two on a few winter weeknights. richforman |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
Bryan wrote: "Varis" wrote in message oups.com... This seems to be one of the perpetual boating discussion topics in Finland as well. We still live in a free wild world, though there has been some effort in building a formal education system. One fear is that if the authorities get involved in setting up the system it will introduce quite a bit of costs to burden boaters. By all means the beaurocratic BS must be kept to a minimum and the education should be immediately available to all and free. No one wants to buy their boat, or God help us a PWC, then spend the summer taking a class before they can put the boat in the water! I see 2 levels of certification: a mandatory quickie information only computer course before registration of the vehicle can occur and a longer voluntary hands on course. Our law in Washington State, enacted in 2005, allows a very short window of time after taking delivery of boat to get the education. (This was included at the insistence of the boat dealers, who, rather understandably, didn't want to see a lot of sales stall out when the buyer was hot to trot and then realized he hasn't taken the course). One of the neat aspects of our state law is that there really isn't a new governmental department created to oversee this. The training itself can be any course that is "approved" by the regulatory agency (in our state it is the State Parks Department), and the list includes the typical courses taught by the USCG Auxiliary or the Power Squadron. In fact, anybody who can produce a certificate showing that they ever completed such a course has automatically met the requirements. In our state the "Boatsmart" course offered by both the USPS and the USCGA meets the education qualification, and that is often offered in a one-Saturday full day format. Washington issues cards showing that the boater has met the minimum education requirements. The cards cost $10 or $15, and are good for a lifetime without renewal. The only additional future cost would be for a replacement card if the boater should happen to lose the original. The Parks Department is using the card fees to pay the salaries of the people they hired to run the database of "educated" boaters and send out the card, so it is a self-funding program. Our law phases in over a period of years, with the youngest boaters required to meet the requirements first. Each year the age group that is required to show proof of boating education expands upward by a few years. The law applies to everybody except old fossils like me, born before 1955. I guess the state figures that by the time enough years go by to where our age group would be included, we'll all be senile and unteachable anyway. *************** We must have had a group of students down on the fuel dock last weekend. I was topping off my fuel.....($400!....but I'll go hundreds of miles and would not need any more fuel until spring if I didn't want to have the tanks relatively full for winter)... when a group of mostly men followed a young female instructor down to the dock. Everybody was wearing life jackets, which is an unusual sight when you see people walking out onto the fuel dock from shore. While I was fueling up, they gathered around the pump and the instructor lectured them about proper fueling procedures. I was glad that I had followed all the basics, (including having a petro diaper positioned at the vent to intercept any accidental burps). It would have been embarrassing to be pointed out as the example of "how not to fuel your boat." |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
|
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 06:00:32 -0000, Chuck Gould
wrote: Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators. A good thing. When are they going to mandate safety education for Cali drivers? (sorry, couldn't resist.) -- Blogging from Pine View Farm--http://frankwbell.no-ip.info/weblog Updates daily. Worthwhile updates occasionally. fwb2355 is a spam trap. Email frankwbell at comcast.net Slackware (http://www.slackware.com) and Opera (http://www.opera.com): the ultimate internet experience. |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message ups.com... Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators. The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room, 700 16th Street, Sacramento. "There is no question that California's boating accidents and fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?" The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters, representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies, boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said. Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006. Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating accidents and fatalities." "Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California. Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan said. More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California. "I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to do this now," she said. A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association. Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened," he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to consensus and move this forward." The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said. In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80 percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said. The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education legislation has to come from the boating community," said David Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation." The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars and boating facility construction loan payments. - 30 - If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety course. Maybe we can also get our legislators to also take a course in good governing. |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... wrote: Yeah, our drivers education is so effective we never have any bad drivers on the road ;-) Yeah, but can you imagine what the roads would be like if there were *no* licensing laws requiring basic familiarity with rules and a test for basic competency? Whenever you get a lot of people together, with opposing directions of travel and/or priorities in a small area "no rules, no minimum exposure to any rules, and no qualifications of any kind" is a recipe for a disaster. Seeing the lack of good drivers in California, and while traveling through Washington from Sumas to Oregon I noticed a lack also, I find that the driving is not much worse in Peru and Ecuador where lines on the street are just an advisory. Just returning from an 8000 mile trip to Alaska, and for the whole trip only saw 4 accidents. 1 in Alaska, where a camper van went off the side of the road and over corrected, and rolled near Coopers Landing on the Kenai and the same thing coming up from the WAC Bennett dam in BC, but a VW Jetta, I saw 2 accidents yesterday on I-5 in Oregon. Seems as if lots of cars in a confined area induces accidents. Same with boats. Education may help, at least you can rap the head of the blow boater who claims to have the right of way over power driven boats with the manual. If he survives the right of way battle with a tanker. |
Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...
Calif Bill wrote: "Chuck Gould" wrote in message oups.com... wrote: Yeah, our drivers education is so effective we never have any bad drivers on the road ;-) Yeah, but can you imagine what the roads would be like if there were *no* licensing laws requiring basic familiarity with rules and a test for basic competency? Whenever you get a lot of people together, with opposing directions of travel and/or priorities in a small area "no rules, no minimum exposure to any rules, and no qualifications of any kind" is a recipe for a disaster. Seeing the lack of good drivers in California, and while traveling through Washington from Sumas to Oregon I noticed a lack also, I find that the driving is not much worse in Peru and Ecuador where lines on the street are just an advisory. Just returning from an 8000 mile trip to Alaska, and for the whole trip only saw 4 accidents. 1 in Alaska, where a camper van went off the side of the road and over corrected, and rolled near Coopers Landing on the Kenai and the same thing coming up from the WAC Bennett dam in BC, but a VW Jetta, I saw 2 accidents yesterday on I-5 in Oregon. Seems as if lots of cars in a confined area induces accidents. Same with boats. Education may help, at least you can rap the head of the blow boater who claims to have the right of way over power driven boats with the manual. If he survives the right of way battle with a tanker. There's a big difference between automobile and boat driving to take into consideration: most people, before they take the wheel of a car, have fifteen or sixteen years' experience watching it done, and so probably know most of the basics even before being formally trained in advance of getting a license. (Despite this, I still support mandatory education and licensing for car drivers.) But this is very different with many boaters, who can often buy and start driving their first boat with little or no experience or knowledge. That's one of the reasons I support requiring people to show that they at least have been exposed to the basics. richforman |
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