Drownings in Ontario prompt calls to reform boating laws

[Two Peas]

You just can't help the stupid. This type of law doesn't make sense. Instead of mandatory life jackets on everyone, why not:

1. Mandatory licensing for boat operators (and not the kind of license we have here in Ontario that you get by taking an internet test at home)
2. Mandatory life jackets on children under 14 on all vessels in motion.
3. Mandatory life jackets on children under 8 on all vessels not a dock.
4. Speed limits on boats in inland lakes and rivers. (A poker run last week went by me with 30 go-fasts going very fast very close to a hundred other boats without a care in the world.
5. Reasonable enforcement. In our area, enforcement on the water seems to only happen on Tuesdays when noone is on the water - we never see the police boats out on Saturdays or Sundays when the water is packed with boats.

Here's the article from the Toronto Star today: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/678722

 

[MExcelsior]

You just can't help the stupid. This type of law doesn't make sense. Instead of mandatory life jackets on everyone, why not:

1. Mandatory licensing for boat operators (and not the kind of license we have here in Ontario that you get by taking an internet test at home)
2. Mandatory life jackets on children under 14 on all vessels in motion.
3. Mandatory life jackets on children under 8 on all vessels not a dock.
4. Speed limits on boats in inland lakes and rivers. (A poker run last week went by me with 30 go-fasts going very fast very close to a hundred other boats without a care in the world.
5. Reasonable enforcement. In our area, enforcement on the water seems to only happen on Tuesdays when noone is on the water - we never see the police boats out on Saturdays or Sundays when the water is packed with boats.

Here's the article from the Toronto Star today: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/678722

These are extremely good and very reasonable. Mandatory life jackets may be going a bit far. (Unless you are on big water). Reasonable enforcement is the real key on the roads as well as the water. I see law enforcement "bend over to pick up a penny, but sidestep the dollar". In other words, they focus on the little things and let the drunks get away with murder... literally.

Mike

 

[jmunro123]

Wow - that is one bad news story. It should be common sense. If you can't swim and in a small boat like a canoe you might want to seriously consider wearing a life jacket. However, lifejackets are not cool, so they get left behind.

I read a story last summer about a family of three in a small sailboat (less than 18 feet). The mother and infant both were wearing lifejackets but the dad was not. The boat capsized in a gust of wind and the dad slipped under the water while the wife watched. Just plan stupid but I bet he looked cool without a jacket.

I would have no problem with lifejackets being required. It would be good if someone made a Lifejacket 'lite' . Just enough to keep you afloat and be an aid in swiming. Many are to bulky especially kids lifejackets.