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Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board
Re: Questions about sea kayaking
Posted By: Mike Savage In Response To: Re: Questions about sea kayaking (HenkA)
Date: Saturday, 10 February 2007, at 12:19 p.m.
: Hi Andy,
: Try explaining to this to the families that got killed by not wearing safety
: belts! What, we should have no ABS and airbags too? This is where you too
: are mistaken. Namely, people don't (want to) see the danger. Once they
: feel comfy driving 70 mph without a seatbelt, they will forget about it -
: and get killed, of course. Once Rob Hall did 10 climbs of Mount Everest in
: beautiful weather, he got killed along with several clients the first time
: the weather turned bad. Remember the "experienced" Mount Hood
: climbers who chose light gear over safety? Once "experienced"
: kayakers feel comfortable paddling in nice weather further and further
: out, guess what happens the first time they get into a storm.: Safety belts, ABS and airbags save people's lives. They don't have the effect
: of pushing the limits. You picked just about the worst possible
: counterexample.: If you propose to apply Darwin's law, this simply means that those who did
: not see the danger that they got themselves into will get killed. I think
: Mathew's project is about giving them a better chance of survival.: Just because you (think you) would never get yourself into danger doesn't
: mean that anybody else won't, either. Yes first of all it is in the hands
: of the user. But people make mistakes and that's when they need those
: little improvements of which there are plenty to make with our crappy
: boats that can save people's lives.: Henk
Hi Henk,
You stated the most important part of safety consciousness. "Namely, people don't (want to) see the danger." That is why I prefer motorbikes to cars for my personal use, it keeps my sense of vulnerability sharp.Andy is correct when he states that " Put ABS, seatbelts and airbags on cars and people just drive that bit faster until the perceived risk is at about the same level." Twenty plus years ago, Volvo was rated as the safest car in the world to drive. That was true, they were the safest. They also had the highest collision rate of any make, per thousand. On study, it was found that the drivers felt so safe that they took much more risks on the road. To the detriment of other road users.
It's nice to know what will make a "safer" kayak but there is a danger to it.
Legislation.
If it's percieved that particular features make a kayak or other machine "safer", government tends to make those features mandatory. These can become so expensive to add that the only ones able to produce the machine are major manufacturers. This limits choice.It also decreases the idea of personal responsibility, it allows the user to blame equipment lack for any and all problems.
Life is risk. Make life too safe and people will take more risks to satisfy that level of risk. Look at how "extreme sports" have taken off in recent times.
Mike Savage
South West Cork
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