Kill Switch – New Laws and Common Sense
Kill switch, "circle of death" – menacing and attention-getting terms. But, first, what is the circle of death? When the operator of a recreational boat is ejected or falls overboard, the outboard motor or stern drive often swings to one side. The unmanned boat then goes into a tight circle known as the circle of death, and anyone in the water is a risk of being struck, perhaps multiple times, by the propeller.
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The good news is that this situation can be easily avoided by a kill switch, also called an engine cut off device, and by wearing a lanyard. While new kill switch and usage laws have gone into effect, this is not a new issue. In the 1970’s, the US Coast Guard (USCG) USCG evaluating whether to require kill switches in boats along with evaluating mandatory usage. Here we are, more than 40 years later, rules and laws are being enacted.
Kali’s Law Requires Kill Switch Usage in Texas 
On September 1, 2019, Kali’s Law went into effect in Texas. Named after 16-year-old Kali Gorzell, who died in a boating accident in 2012, the law requires those operating a boat under 26 feet in length to wear a kill switch lanyard. Boat drivers are required to use the cutoff if they’re going faster than headway speed — basically idle speed.
Texas authorities expect this new law to make substantial strides in reducing deaths due to boating accidents. As the bill was being debated in the Texas legislature before passage, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department official testified, and gave an alarming estimate. Of the 29 fatal boating accidents reported in Texas in 2018, the agency believes 26 might have been prevented if an engine cut off device had been used.
Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018
The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 was signed into law by President Trump on December 4, 2018. This appropriations bill passed through congress and made it onto the president's desk to fund the USCG just as it does every year. The appropriations bill often includes riders, and this year was no exception. Along with USCG spending, the bill included a provision requiring boat manufacturers, dealers, and distributors to ensure that boats of 26 feet or less overall and whose engines are capable of more than 115 pounds of thrust be outfitted with an engine cut off switch.
This law will put engine kill switches on more small craft, hopefully reducing deaths and injuries from “circle of death” incidents. While the bill requires that engine cut off devices be installed, the law does not require the use of the engine cut off device.
Fishing Tournaments
More and more fishing tournaments across the country require boats to be equipped with kill switches and require their use during the event.
Here’s Where Common Sense Comes In
Rules, laws, and regulations are one approach and perhaps are needed to raise awareness of the issue. However, good old fashion common sense should also come into play. We should all make sure that our boats are equipped with engine cut off devices, and we should use them. Investing $11.00 - $36.00 in a kill switch (granted a bit more if a wireless device is important to you) and replacing the lanyard now and then is a small price to save your own life or the life of a friend or family member.
Test Kill Switch and Lanyard Condition
Perhaps this is an obvious point, but you need to periodically test your kills switch to make sure that it is still operating correctly. Also, kill switch lanyards will need to be replaced periodically. Although kill switches and lanyards are highly effective, they are made of plastics that are weakened and eventually deteriorate due to sun exposure and general age.
Avoiding a leading cause of boating injuries and fatalities is simple.
1. Make sure your boat is equipped with a kill switch
2. Test the engine cut off device periodically to assure that it is working properly
3. Wear a kill switch lanyard whenever you are operating your boat
4. Replace your lanyard occasionally to make sure that it does not break when you need it most
