Did compulsory wear regulations increase personal flotation device (PFD) use by boaters in small power recreational vessels? A before-after observational study conducted in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Objective To estimate the effect of the 2005 Victorian mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) wearing regulations on PFD use by occupants of small (hull length ≤4.8 m) power recreational vessels. Design Before-after observational study investigating the probability of PFD use among occupants of small vessels before and after the regulations were introduced compared with the probability of use by their counterparts on large power vessels (hull length >4.8-12 m) who were not required to wear PFDs before or after the regulations were introduced in the low-risk conditions in which observations occurred. Methods Statewide observation surveys of boaters were conducted in peak boating periods between January and March 2005 ( prelegislation) and 2007 ( postlegislation). Data collection included size of vessel, age and sex of boaters, life jacket use, boat type, activity of boaters, type of waterway and weather and water conditions. Logistic regression modelling tested whether there were statistically significant differences in the change in the relative odds of occupants wearing PFDs from the preintervention to the postintervention period in small compared with large power recreational vessels. Results The probability of PFD use increased from 22% to 63% on small power vessels compared with 12% to 13% on large vessels. Regression analysis showed a high statistically significant increase in the odds of PFD use on small vessels relative to large vessels (OR 6.2, 95% CI 4.2 to 9.3, p<0.001). No statistically significant effect on use on large vessels was associated with the regulation (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.70, p=0.15).Relative to large vessels, on small vessels the odds of PFD use increased significantly in both sexes, all age groups, all vessel types and activity groupings except for towed water sports where the increase was only marginally statistically significant. Conclusions The legislative intervention was successful in increasing PFD wearing in small vessels. However, visible enforcement and tougher penalties are needed to optimise compliance.

Effectiveness of the 2005 compulsory personal flotation device (PFD) wearing regulations in reducing drowning deaths among recreational boaters in Victoria, Australia

“…The Victorian PFD wear observation study17 and the current study showed that a third of boaters on small powered vessels and half of the recreational boating drowning victims, respectively, were not complying with PFD wearing regulations in the postintervention periods studied. Ongoing enforcement and targeted public awareness are necessary to maintain the apparent effectiveness of Victoria's 2005 PFD wearing regulations.…”

“…Strong supporting evidence for an association between these results and increased PFD wearing is provided by the before and after observation study of PFD use by recreational boaters in Victoria 17. The observation study, focused only on use by occupants of small (≤4.8 m in hull length) motorised vessels, found that their wearing rate increased from 22% preregulation (January to March 2005) through 54% in the transition year (January to March 2006) to 63% postregulation (January to March 2007) 17.…”

“…The observation study, focused only on use by occupants of small (≤4.8 m in hull length) motorised vessels, found that their wearing rate increased from 22% preregulation (January to March 2005) through 54% in the transition year (January to March 2006) to 63% postregulation (January to March 2007) 17. Regression analysis indicated there was a highly significant eightfold increase in the odds of occupants of small motorised vessels wearing PFDs during January to March 2007 compared with January to March 2005 (OR 8.17, p<0001, CI 6.6 to 10.1).…”

Behaviours and attitudes of recreational fishers toward safety at a ‘blackspot’ for fishing fatalities in Western Australia

“…Evidence indicates that use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) decreases the risks of drowning [10][11][12] and mandatory, rather than voluntary, use of life jackets as being the most effective means for increasing their use. 13 When investigating the coronial files for rock fishing fatalities in NSW from 1992-2000, Jones found that PFDs had not been used by any of the deceased.…”

Prevention of open water drowning while boating

“…Using a cross-sectional observational design, Chung et al 4 report that life jacket use was much more likely among boaters required by law to wear a floatation device. Cassell and Newstead take a longitudinal perspective, contrasting life jacket use before and after a statewide legislative mandate in Victoria, Australia 5. They found that use increased from 22% to 63% among boaters on vessels covered by the law, but did not change among those on vessels that were exempt.…”