From the Editor: December 2005
Every once in a while, you hear something so utterly ridiculous you can't believe someone actually said it. It happened to me this month - and it really got me thinking.
On page 74 of this issue, you'll find the results of our investigation of MARPA, the anti-collision aid that is increasingly common in modern radars. It turns out that
it's surprisingly easy to make mistakes with MARPA if your radar isn't set-up properly, with potentially disasterous consequences.
In our conversations with electronics manufacturers, we asked one why his company's instruction manuals gave so little guidance on safety issues. Here's what he said: "If we gave recommendations and something went wrong, we could be liable. So we assume the user knows what he wants, and knows how to set the radar up."
I was amazed. Isn't that the point of the instructions in the first place? And isn't it completely ridiculous if our compensation system - designed to make companies and individuals responsible for the consequences of their actions - is actually leading to compromises in our safety?
We are boaters, and we understand that our hobby has its risks. So why can't we be treated like adults, in a system that helps us stay safe, instead of left to fend for ourselves by companies too scared of lawsuits to lend a hand?
Simon Collis, 17 November 2005
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