Compulsory kill cords?

[snowleopard]

I received an email from Change.org this morning. It was about the parent of someone who had been killed by a runaway power boat who wanted me to sign a petition to make it illegal to operate a power boat without a kill cord. Would you sign?

I chose not to on the grounds that it would be impossible for British legislators to do just that. They would have to include lots of other safety checks and set up a force to to the checking. And then they'd almost certainly frame it in a way that covered lots of craft where it's irrelevant. They would probably make auxiliary cruisers comply so you'd have to cut the engine so you could go to the bog while motoring on autopilot.

What does the team think?

 

[Elessar]

I received an email from Change.org this morning. It was about the parent of someone who had been killed by a runaway power boat who wanted me to sign a petition to make it illegal to operate a power boat without a kill cord. Would you sign?

I chose not to on the grounds that it would be impossible for British legislators to do just that. They would have to include lots of other safety checks and set up a force to to the checking. And then they'd almost certainly frame it in a way that covered lots of craft where it's irrelevant. They would probably make auxiliary cruisers comply so you'd have to cut the engine so you could go to the bog while motoring on autopilot.

What does the team think?

boating is safer than many heavily regulated activities. The cornwall tragedy will do more for kill cord use than any legislation ever could.

Keep regulation out of boating.

So no, I wouldn't.

 

[lustyd]

Without the sails up my boat is a power boat and needs a kill cord. I attach the kill cord to the pushpit because that's the only sensible option and therefore a law is unworkable so it's pointless to even discuss it in parliament let alone a petition.

 

[[70521]]

I had the same e-mail. I am not longer subscribed to Change.org!

 

[onesea]

boating is safer than many heavily regulated activities. The cornwall tragedy will do more for kill cord use than any legislation ever could.

Keep regulation out of boating.

So no, I wouldn't.

+1

Without the sails up my boat is a power boat and needs a kill cord. I attach the kill cord to the pushpit because that's the only sensible option and therefore a law is unworkable so it's pointless to even discuss it in parliament let alone a petition.

+1

 

[prv]

I tried to think of a way to anti-sign, but there isn't anything obvious so I just ignored it.

Trouble is, from the outside with no knowledge of the subject it seems a perfectly reasonable suggestion, so loads of people will sign it.

Pete

 

[Giblets]

One wonders how many who have already signed (reportedly over 5000) are actually boat owners/operators.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Our Yamaha 4hp which we run on our tender doesn't have a kill cord.

(Yes I know one can retro fit one, and I have even bought a switch etc, The problem is that there isn't room in the casing for the one I bought and I am now trying to source a smaller kill switch... Do I buy shares in o/b importers?)

 

[maxi77]

The only value in legislation that is unenforceable is that it makes the MPs feel better. After all it is illegal to drive over 70 mph on a motorway, how many people find this restriction on their liberty intolerable?

 

[jac]

The only value in legislation that is unenforceable is that it makes the MPs feel better. After all it is illegal to drive over 70 mph on a motorway, how many people find this restriction on their liberty intolerable?

Whilst it probably may make them feel better it is still an unwelcome intrusion into liberty. I subscribe to the view that we should have as few laws as we can get away with and with as few people as possible to administer it.

I understand the parents desire to "do something" but these sort of knee jerk laws are usually a really bad idea.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

The only value in legislation that is unenforceable is that it makes the MPs feel better. After all it is illegal to drive over 70 mph on a motorway, how many people find this restriction on their liberty intolerable?

I got charged last night for 90 mph on the M74. I found the 70 mph restriction pretty intolerable, however I was speeding and it was more dangerous, so I was stupid.

Back to the subject in hand. No, I would not sign it because at this level its just nannying, similarly I would not support compulsory testing and licensing of cyclists. I would like to see more heavy handed prosecution of folks who accidentally kill people

 

[maxi77]

I got charged last night for 90 mph on the M74. I found the 70 mph restriction pretty intolerable, however I was speeding and it was more dangerous, so I was stupid.

Back to the subject in hand. No, I would not sign it because at this level its just nannying, similarly I would not support compulsory testing and licensing of cyclists. I would like to see more heavy handed prosecution of folks who accidentally kill people

Mind you just how many others did not get caught and have not had the same chance to show contrition. I do agree with the concept though of making manslaughter through neglect or lack of attention to more vigorously pursued against those who kill on the roads and elsewhere. The pillock who killed my brother got fined £200.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Apparently in the NL there is a fine if not wearing the kill cord, in outboard fitted small boats, ribs etc. Didnt ask if it applies to say a small sailing boat.

 

[chubby]

Too many grey areas: I can see the point with RIBS etc after the awful accident in Cornwall, but low powered yacht tenders? How many use theirs in the tender with a 2HP outboard? All sorts of small yachts and angling type boats with OBs where it might not work? Maybe more than 15 HP or 15 knots speed?

 

[Grumpybear]

Hard cases make bad law. In practical terms such a law would be unenforceable in UK waters without gigantic growth in marine policing resources.

 

[trapezeartist]

I wouldn't have signed. As well as all the practical difficulties of framing and enforcing such a law, it would also have a negative effect on real thinking about safety. If people just comply with a rule, they feel that they don't need to think about safety for themselves. Just like ticking a few boxes on a Risk Assessment form (capital letters) gets in the way of doing a real risk assessment (small letters).

 

[Uricanejack]

The obvious solution is to require all outboards to be fitted with kill switch. I think this is likely to be the case already with an exemption for very small ones where impracticable.
Then it is up to the operator to choose to bypass the system.

 

[onesea]

Maybe more than 15 HP or 15 knots speed?

None displacement or craft capable of planing is where I would go. But again I really do no think it is sensible or enforceable...

 

[lustyd]

None displacement or craft capable of planing is where I would go. But again I really do no think it is sensible or enforceable...

Didn't stop them outlawing mobiles while driving though, and there was no need for that either.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

The obvious solution is to require all outboards to be fitted with kill switch. I think this is likely to be the case already with an exemption for very small ones where impracticable.
Then it is up to the operator to choose to bypass the system.

Not practical?

My 2.5 HP mariner has a kill switch. Doesn't take any room at all.