On Thursday, April 17, 2003, at 10:42 AM, Gary J. MacDonald wrote: > Dave Kruger wrote: > >> The chance that a befuddled paddler (even on a WW river) will hurt >> someone >> else with his/her craft is pretty slim -- so the rationale here is >> similar >> to that for helmets for motorcycle riders (or, in Oregon, under-16 >> bicycle >> riders): using the headgear reduces expensive and debillitating head >> injuries, reducing the overall cost of health care. Which we all >> sort of >> "share" whether protected by our own health insurance or not. I >> don't like >> being told I have to wear a helmet if I ride a mototcycle, but I do >> see the >> stake we all have in making sure head injuries are minimized. > > Not at all to defend the types of registration usually attempted, > but... > > WW paddlers at crowded playspots have been known to ram each other, > but a real problem is creating a dangerous situation for the friends > or guides or paddlers-by who try to rescue the unknowing newbie or the > casually clueless. It also helps prevent greiving relatives syndrome. > > In the Litigous States of America, everyone in any way involved might > face liability. A legal entrepreneur might launch a suit naming > equipment mfrs, adjacent landowners, landowners allowing access to > put-ins, any regulatory or rescue authorities, previous guides or > instructors, paddling companions, etc etc. I presume there are > precendent excluding some of these, but not all. The attempts to register rarely have any intent to protect paddlers already committed to the sport. Regulators are not concerned about unruly WW paddlers trying to get one more ride on a nice wave. About half the fatalities are in calm water. Regulators want to protect the decides one day that they want to paddle across the lake, capsize and drown. Boating safety education would not be able to teach committed paddlers anything, they can only hope to teach the casual paddler a few simple ideas that might save their life: Wear a PFD, Don't stand up, Don't paddle in high water unless you know exactly what you are doing, etc. The goal of any regulation would be to protect those people who otherwise would not have a clue. I think it is worthwhile that these people get the information they need, I am just not convinced that mandatory training is a reasonable way to do it. Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 824 Thompson St Glastonbury, CT 06033 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Apr 17 2003 - 08:39:35 PDT
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