Are these tow trailers really safe in the dark?

[amigafan2003]

Someone learns to swim
They dont ever swim afterwards
One day they accidentally fall in the water
The fact that they can swim saves their life
Good result surely ?

Conversely, 99% a non swimmers wouldn't be anywhere near the water in the first place - ergo non swimmers aren't at risk in the first place.

It's the same reason why you don't get many people who are afraid of heights falling off tall buildings.

 

[SRS]

Mine was a post about logic, to which you've twice responded with tosh.

flecc, apologies for the tosh. What was it that you said about trailer safety?

 

[flecc]

flecc, apologies for the tosh. What was it that you said about trailer safety?

. Nothing, the post was responding to Jeremy who I quoted, since his post was about logic.

The context of swimming and pedestrian deaths was incidental.

I could just as easily have used the government inconsistency of reducing taxation of the rich yet now taking away their child benefit. Opposite and inconsistent actions.

But please everyone, no discussion wanted now on the taxation of the rich!
.

 

[funkylyn]

Conversely, 99% a non swimmers wouldn't be anywhere near the water in the first place - ergo non swimmers aren't at risk in the first place.

It's the same reason why you don't get many people who are afraid of heights falling off tall buildings.

LOL......Im a non swimmer and regularly cross the channel (by ferry !), walk near rivers and the sea, cycle along canal towpaths and go in my swimming pool to cool off.......maybe Ive just been lucky, but I wish the govt, through my school, had made more of an effort to teach me to swim, but then thats me......incorrigible risk taker

Lynda

 

[flecc]

I wish the govt, through my school, had made more of an effort to teach me to swim,

Lynda

Or given you a free life jacket?

There's risk reduction precedent, they gave us free gas masks during the war. Kids got Mickey Mouse ones:

 

[GaRRy]

Trouble with all of this is that it perfectly possible to twist anything to be what you want it to be (safe or unsafe).

eg we should ban motorcycle helmets because there have been no/very few deaths on the road of motor cyclists not wearing helmets. Now statistically this is correct but of course completely ignores that fact that wearing of Helmets is compulsory. Yes a rather obvious extreme example but people and especially Governments are very good at using this kind of perverse logic to do things.

Same with swimming. People drown ergo they obviously drowned because they cant swim therefore we should encourage more people to learn to swim. but because more people swim more people drown.

oh and like flecc swimming is just a example it could just as easily be another activity / safety feature .

Another example boxing is far more dangerous now that they wear gloves. now logic says gloves = less hard hits = less chance of damage but the reality is that it just means can land more blows before a knock out meaning that the total damage over time is far more (ie loads of 80% punches rather than 1 100% knock out punch).

Ultimately we have to all make up our own minds on what is a acceptable risk and there is no way we will all ever agree as we all see these things from our own perspective and experiences.

 

[flecc]

People drown ergo they obviously drowned because they cant swim t

Actually as Amigafan observed, most drownings are people who can swim. That's why they were in the water, swimming but getting into trouble. Non-swimmers tend to avoid jumping in. I think Amigafan's 98% of the drowned being swimmers is about right.

 

[Old_Dave]

Yes... Can but for various reasons didn't


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Scimitar]

As far as swimming versus walking goes...
The only way to avoid drowning is to learn to walk on water.
And wear LED wristbands.

 

[amigafan2003]

As far as swimming versus walking goes...
The only way to avoid drowning is to learn to walk on water.
And wear LED wristbands.

And a helmet, obviously.

Oh, and hi-vis.

 

[flecc]

The only way to avoid drowning is to learn to walk on water.

Or live where I do, no chance of drowning. It's one of the driest areas in the country, no lakes or rivers, just four miserable little shallow ponds in many miles around which tend to dry out many years. Nearly 50 miles from the coast and one of the first areas to notify a drought and hosepipe ban each time. The water supply for the area is from a deep well pumping station.

 

[Jeremy]

Or live where I do, no chance of drowning. It's one of the driest areas in the country, no lakes or rivers, just four miserable little shallow ponds in many miles around which tend to dry out many years. Nearly 50 miles from the coast and one of the first areas to notify a drought and hosepipe ban each time. The water supply for the area is from a deep well pumping station.

flecc, you may not be as safe as you think! (unless you never take a bath.......)

Here are the drowning statistics for 2011: http://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/waid/info/waid_fatalincidentreport_2011.pdf

Interesting to note that out of 407 deaths recorded as drowning, 7 people drowned when cycling, 14 drowned in the bath, 87 drowned when walking or running and 167 were suicides. Only 39 deaths are recorded as whilst swimming, but there are another 35 deaths that are recorded as waterside activity/playing that might well fall into the same general category.

One can't help but reach the conclusion that, as suicide is the most common reason for death by drowning, then perhaps treating the cause of suicidal tendencies would be far more effective at saving lives than teaching people to swim.......................

 

[flecc]

Indeed Jeremy, I remember once being surprised at some US statistics on the numbers of people drowning in their bath!

Of course the shower manufacturers might have a hand in these figures!

 

[amigafan2003]

Haha yeah - like the German Motor Insurance beurau reconmending cyclists should take out third party insurance

 

[GaRRy]

Actually as Amigafan observed, most drownings are people who can swim. That's why they were in the water, swimming but getting into trouble. Non-swimmers tend to avoid jumping in. I think Amigafan's 98% of the drowned being swimmers is about right.

I was just explaining how peoples/governments logic works ( ie how they get from idea to solution).

I was in no way claiming the actual statements are correct just that in someones mind they seem perfectly logical. Hence why one person considers something perfectly safe and reasonble another thinks its completely mad and far to dangerous.

Maybe its time we used something else other than swimming

 

[GaRRy]

Or live where I do, no chance of drowning. It's one of the driest areas in the country, no lakes or rivers, just four miserable little shallow ponds in many miles around which tend to dry out many years. Nearly 50 miles from the coast and one of the first areas to notify a drought and hosepipe ban each time. The water supply for the area is from a deep well pumping station.

bet your nearer the sea than you think ?

it is impossible in uk to be much more than 70 miles away and that is somewhere in south derbyshire.

and if you read this fully even that is debatable

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Derbyshire | The farm furthest from the sea

 

[flecc]

I was just explaining how peoples/governments logic works ( ie how they get from idea to solution).

I was in no way claiming the actual statements are correct just that in someones mind they seem perfectly logical. Hence why one person considers something perfectly safe and reasonble another thinks its completely mad and far to dangerous.

Maybe its time we used something else other than swimming

Thanks Garry, understood. I tried to change the context from swimming here

 

[funkylyn]

Maybe its time we used something else other than swimming

Ah...so what do you suggest instead then GaRRy ?

This discussion could start to get interesting

We certainly seem to have strayed a long way from bike trailers for children.......

Lynda

PS...I think it might be safer to keep off flecc's suggestion for change of subject lol

 

[flecc]

bet your nearer the sea than you think ?

it is impossible in uk to be much more than 70 miles away and that is somewhere in south derbyshire.

and if you read this fully even that is debatable

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Derbyshire | The farm furthest from the sea

Yes, I knew this, but I quoted my actual road distance to the South Coast since I can't fly like a crow. I am somewhat closer to the Thames Estuary, but there's far too much built up area in the way to get there and the M25 goes on a sightseeing tour of Southern England to get there.

 

[flecc]

We certainly seem to have strayed a long way from bike trailers for children.......

That's true, but we are now all agreed on that. They are either safely dangerous or dangerously safe.

Of course child trailer owners could copy the Romans and mount a shiny long blade on each wheel, that'd make motorists keep their distance.