The Perils of Summer

If one were to arrive from Mars, and attempt to understand NZ from today's media, one would assume that we spent our time trying to kill each other, whilst attempting to get to beaches where we then seek to drown ourselves in ever greater numbers (if we don't achieve the same effect by means of inexperienced people at the helm of boats). Thus is the focus of the media in the holiday season. I understand that road deaths are 50% up on last year (12 versus 18), a sad figure. yet, in my wanderings around the North Island in the last two weeks, I have been struck by the generally improved behaviour of drivers on the road. The new 90kms limit on parts of SH2 seems to be a success, in particular.

The median barrier argument makes sense to me. People now drive whilst messing around with radios, CDs, iPods and phones, whilst also smoking, eating and drinking and generally attempting to lead a normal domestic life , whilst also driving at 100kms. Inattention follows as day follows night, and, especially on the main trunk roads, barriers would reduce the number of head-on crashes that we experience.

Drownings are another matter. Putting to one side the need to ensure that our youngsters are taught to swim and respect water, I have watched too many people pulled out of the surf  on my own local beach on the Coromandel, thankfully alive in most cases. On any day over summer one can see the obviously inexperienced swimmer gaily jumping into the surf next to signs warning of rips. Inevitably some get into difficulties; fortunately, in  most cases experienced swimmers pull them out, but once in a while, things take a different course. I doubt that we can do much about this, other than improve water safety training.

Boats are now scary. I watch the array of new boats arriving at the slips, pulled by their SUVs, launched inexpertly, crammed with people without life-belts, heading our across notorious bars at twice the decreed speed and with little regard for the water traffic rules, and wonder why more are not killed in accidents. At some stage, greater regulation will be needed for this leisure activity. Boats are potentially lethal, and the idea that one can acquire one without any formal training in their use is challenging. Of course, the costs of running them may also become a factor. One can put $200 plus dollars of fuel in a boat these days, which might get you 30 miles or so. Boating is not a cheap leisure option.