The speed limit for a school zone is 15 mph and can be as high as 45 mph in rural areas. In Florida we have no wake zones where a boat must idle (about 5 mph) because Manatees may be present. A manatee can hear a boat coming (10 to 15 mph) and get out of the way. A child can not hear as well, does not pay attention to traffic, or distracted by other kids. I think the no wake zones are to protect the rich homeowners and their seawalls along the intercoastal waterway. There seems to be no logic or reason for the locations of the no wake zones.
If 15 mph is good enough for our children, then 15 mph should be good enough for the Manatees.
2007-06-24 07:23:00 · 6 answers · asked by Trader 2 in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
It's a matter of data and science.
Data shows that Manatees get killed in significant numbers by speedboats at speeds as low as 15 mph. Data also shows that 15 mph is a safe speed for children.
And the manatees can't always get out of the way. The idea is that a 5mph collision is unsurvivable, while a higher speed one isn't.
""Even with slow speed zones, collisions between manatees and boats will continue to occur, it's just a matter of reducing the risk and the probability of collisions," said Nowacek. "About half of manatee boat strike deaths can be attributed to blunt trauma and not propeller wounds, so doesn't it make sense to reduce speed and the force of blunt hits?"
People aren't as dumb about this stuff as is commonly thought.
2007-06-24 07:45:04 · answer #1 · answered by Bob 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever seen a manatee in the wild where you live? I have seen a number of them and they all have scars on their backs from propellers. Why endanger these animals by raising the speed limit? They have to swim to get out of the way which is a slower process than walking or running for many creatures. 15 mph allows drivers to react faster if kids are in the way while boat drivers cannot see the manatees under the water and depend solely on the creatures to react. I don't think that you thought this through or that you would be insensitive if you saw one of these big animals hurt.
2007-06-24 14:33:23 · answer #2 · answered by Texas Cowboy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
dont u think the person in the car can get out the way if a child is coming? dont u think that if sum one was in a boat they wouldnt be able 2 c the manatees? here's the thing, MANATEES R ENDANGERED, CHILDREN R NOT!! of course people would try 2 protect manatees. n not all children r stupid enuf 2 walk in the middle of the road when a car is comin. and according 2 this load of CRAP ur tellin me, i think i can safely say dat u must b 3 different kinds of crazy. who else agrees wit me?
2007-06-24 18:07:49 · answer #3 · answered by Telltale 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
By your logic, since a manatee can hold its breath underwater for 20 minutes, the best way to teach your children to swim is to hold them under water for 20 minutes.
That sounds just as stupid to you as what you said sounds to a lot of people. Just because Disney gives cartoon animals voices doesn't make them human. A manatee is not a child and a child is not a manatee.
2007-06-24 15:02:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Are you a well person?
Parents have to do with the health and well fare of children.
We invade a manatees space.
2007-06-24 14:31:11 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there are a lot less Manatees than children and they cannot be taught to run when a boat is comming
2007-06-24 14:45:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋