Monday, June 13, 2005
 
Trade Group Lauds Outsourcing Good Business Sense to State
Last week's story about the state of Missouri regulating personal watercraft use by minors drew this supportive letter from a trade group:
    We cannot point blame at personal watercraft for causing accidents when operator-controlled factors such as inattention and inexperience are cited as the leading contributors ("Zippy craft, young riders are making waves," June 4). Irresponsible boaters cause accidents. Because most accidents are preventable, steps must be taken by boaters themselves to improve safety.

    People who take a boating safety education course are less likely to be involved in an accident. Rental-business owners should more thoroughly explain the rules to customers, so that they know how and where to ride, in addition to not jumping a boat's wake or riding to close to another personal watercraft.

    We applaud Missouri for its new boater education law that requires all boaters born after Jan. 1, 1984, to pass a safety course. But older boaters should take a class, too. Personal watercraft manufacturers support laws that require all PWC operators, regardless of age or previous experience, to take a course. We also support a minimum age requirement of 16 years to operate a personal watercraft and 18 years to rent one.

    To prevent an enjoyable boating day from becoming an unfortunate tragedy, we all must take steps to assure that safety and responsibility come first.

    Maureen Healey
    Executive Director
    Personal Watercraft
    Industry Association
    Washington D.C.
Instead of lobbying for regulation, perhaps Ms. Healey could have told her association's members and customers to just not rent to minors. However, it's cheaper for the members if the state handles all the expense of the entrepreneurs' costs of business. After all, it's working wonders for the airline industry.

(Submitted to the Outside the Beltway Traffic Jam.)


- posted by Brian J. @ 9:56 AM
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