Mandatory Life Jackets

Mandatory Life Jackets (MLJ).

Lives are being lost.  It's time to introduce this critical safety initiative. 

Since introducing the cycling specific mandatory helmet law (MHL) 25 years ago, Australia has waited for the rest of the world to catch-up.  We are still waiting. 

In those 25 years, MHL has proven one thing; that mandating bicycle helmets leads to fewer cyclists.  

In 2016, 280 Australians died by drowning.  This number exceeds the number of cycling deaths.  Water safety experts have said that people enjoying water based activities are individually less likely to die if they are wearing an Australian approved correctly fitted life jacket.  Water safety experts have also expressed their belief that the majority of these drownings were preventable.

The benefits of life jackets are proven.  Life jackets are already mandated for some water based activities.  Motorboat racing and the Sydney Hobart yacht race are good examples. Swimming in your own pool, at your local beach, in your favourite swimming hole, fishing from the shore, sitting on a jetty or walking over a bridge should be no different.  There’s simply no excuse not to wear a life jacket.

Potential benefits also include:

• World leadership.  Nowhere in the world has adopted such a visionary approach to water safety.  MLJ would cement the unique reputation established by Australia with MHL.
• Cost savings.  Proven preventative measures such as pool fences, life guards and swimming lessons could be avoided.
• Revenue.  Fines for non-compliance could be spent on education programs on the dangers of swimming and the benefits of life jackets.

We have MHL, now is the time for MLJ.

Remember, if it saves just one life…

JT@Johnnyboyjt