Compulsory PFDs? 

In Tasmania and Victoria the number of deaths from boating accidents dropped after new regulations required PFDs to be worn at all times. 
  But boaters in those States face extra dangers – low water temperature and exposed coastal conditions in Tasmania, and in Victoria, where most boating is on Port Phillip Bay, sudden storms and wind changes can roll across the bay with little warning and virtually no protection to the boater. 
  In less extreme conditions, a better approach to boating safety is education and self-regulation. 
  Should everyone sitting on a 16m cruiser motoring up the river wear a PFD? Do they face the same risk as three people on a 4m tinny crossing Jervis Bay in strong winds? Surely not … if we adopt common sense. What about larger people forced to wear a PFD onboard a yacht, struggling to fit through a hatch 
  from below deck? High risk activities such as crossing bars and water skiing entail compulsory wearing of a suitable PFD. Perhaps this might be reviewed for sailboarders and kite surfers. Very young children should wear PFDs at all times. However, care should be taken to check the correct sizing, following the case of a child drowning after slipping out of an adult size PFD. 
  It’s reassuring therefore to hear NSW Minister for Ports and Waterways, Joe Tripodi when he announced major reforms to marine safety laws. 
  “We continue to believe prevention is better than cure. Our education programme will continue to build awareness of the safety precautions everyone should take while enjoying our waterways,” he said. 
  At last year’s Sydney International Boat Show, boaters and advocacy groups were also encouraged to hear NSW Maritime’s boating message for the summer “You’re the Skipper, You’re Responsible” 
  Better education about managing risk, understanding the skipper’s responsibility to all people on board, and how to make prudent decisions, are messages promoted by the Boat Owners Association. 
  Four simple themes – putting responsibility where it belongs, better education on safety awareness, understanding the risks of boating and how to manage those risks, and finally, prevention of boating incidents before they become an accident – are crucial elements of boating safety. 
  The BIA of NSW actively promotes education before regulation and regularly runs advertisements with boating tips on safety, doing the right thing and to be mindful of the needs of other waterway users. 
  A template could guide skippers on how to measure risk and decide what safety measures to put in place for the day. Sometimes it will be a decision to turn back in the face of bad weather or rising seas, and that everyone on board puts on a PFD. A self-adhesive label on the control panel or prominent position to measure risk would be useful. Vessel passenger capacity labels have proven a success in preventing overloading – provided boaters know to look, check and ask. 
  Better education of what to expect would be a huge first step in improving recreational boating safety. 

Robin Copeland