[Psml] Boating accidents

[WMMILLER at aol.com]

Phil, the same is true with Arkansas and Oklahoma.  You can take the  test on 
line without taking a course.  It's interesting to note that the OK  law 
states the test must be proctored, but the state provides an internet method  to 
get the certificate.  It is all a joke.
 
Bill Miller
D31
 
 
 
In a message dated 8/26/2007 4:50:18 PM Mountain Daylight Time,  
plarcuni at sprynet.com writes:

Accidents have been sort of flat for the last few years. Statistics are  only 
useful when one has all the numbers. If a very large percentage of  
"captains" have no formal training (as I suspect), this little piece of  data 
could be good news, rather than bad. While I have always wanted to  believe 
that classes prevent accidents, I asked the USCG for hard data as  long as 
ten years ago, and still I have not seen it. Perhaps it is not  available 
with any degree of statistical reliability.

Nearly a ago  a 13 year old in Key West ran into an anchored boat of 
snorkelers, which  had a flag up and was in open water. One snorkel was 
killed, and the  boater left the scene because his passenger was also 
injured. He had a  Florida Operator's Permit, but they are easy to get 
without taking a  formal class. I know he did not take the USPS class, and 
suspect that he  did not take the Auxiliary class. The youngster is in 
long-term detention  and the last I heard, there is a law suit pending.

Does possession of a  state-issued permit assume formal training? Not 
necessarily in Florida,  where anyone can pickup a free state manual, tear 
out the last page, fill  in the exam, mail it in, and receive an Operators 
Permit (required only  for anyone under 22 years old) by return mail.

R/C Phil Arcuni,  SN
Key West
Past SEO and DEO

----- Original Message -----  
From: <uspsd3ronf at aol.com>
To:  <plarcuni at sprynet.com>
Cc: "United States Power Squadrons Mailing  List" <psml at usps.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 3:40  PM
Subject: [Psml] Boating accidents


> Quoted from The Boston  Globe in "The Week" magazine, 31 August:
> "Boating accidents are on the  rise across the country, as 'captains' with 
> more? money than skill  take the helm of powerful motorboats. In 2006, 70 
> percent of the 710  boaters killed were on vessels whose captains had no 
> formal  training."
> I'm guessing that this information came from the most  recent USCG report 
> on boating safety.
> P/D/C Ron Friedmann,  AP
> D3 

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