Thank you for following the link from the MSV website to this survey. Monash University Accident Research Centre is independently evaluating the Boat Operator Licensing Scheme. If you are prepared to:
then please fill in your details below and complete the survey. Your personal details will not be published in any report or shared in any way, and will be held in a secure file.
Full name:
Driver licence number, if you have one:
Postcode of your address:
1. What is your age in years? 2. What is your gender? Male Female
3. What is your highest level of education? (tick box) Primary school (specify highest grade completed) High school (specify highest grade completed) TAFE or certificate course University: graduate diploma University: postgraduate degress Other education level (specify)
4(a). Have you operated a powered boat (including PWC) under supervision prior to today? Yes No (if 'no' go to Question 5a )
4(b). How many hours in total have you spent operating a powered boat (including PWC) under supervision? Less than one hour One to four hours Five to nine hours Ten to nineteen hours Twenty plus hours (please specify number of hours)
5(a). Have you operated a powered boat (including PWC) alone prior to today? Yes No (if 'no' go to Question 6 )
5(b). How many hours in total have you spent operating a powered boat (including PWC) alone? Less than one hour One to four hours Five to nine hours Ten to nineteen hours Twenty plus hours (please specify number of hours)
6. What type of powered boat/s will you be operating after you get your Recreational Boat Operators Licence? (you may tick more than one box) Dinghy (e.g. tinny, runabout) Personal Water Craft (e.g. jetski, waverunner) Motorised sailing boat Speed boat Half cabin/Full cabin cruiser Other motor boat (specify)
7. Have you read the Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook prior to today? Yes No (if 'no' go to Question 9)
8. How much time have you spent reading the Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook prior to today? I've only read some pages I've read it all through once I've studied it for less than one hour I've studied it for 1-2 hours I've studied it for more than 2 hours
There are 3 sections in the knowledge test that cover information in each of Chapters 1-3 of the Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook. As you have not yet studied the handbook in detail, you should not expect to be able to answer all of these questions correctly.
9.Under what age must all children wear a PFD in an open area of a recreational vessel that is underway? 6 years 10 years 13 years
10. What is the permitted blood alcohol level for a person under 21 years who is operating a powerboat? 0.00 - no alcohol permitted Less than 0.03 Less than 0.05 - the same as for driving a car
11. The minimum number of approved PFDs that must be carried in a power vessel is? One for each person on board over 12 years, including persons over 12 years being towed One for each person on board, including persons being towed None, provided sufficient numbers of PFD-2s (bouyancy vest) and PFD-3s (bouyancy garment) are carried for each person on board and persons being towed
12. Complete the following sentence. All powerboats carrying fuel (including cooking appliances) must carry an approved fire-extinguisher? Only on inland waters Only on coastl waters At all times
13. What does this mark indicate? Safe water lies to: The north The east The south
14. You want to anchor your vessel at night. Which of the following must be displayed? An all round white light Sidelights and an all round white light No lights
15. An approaching vessel sounds five (5) short blasts on its horn. It is indicating that it is: Altering its course to starboard (to its right) Operating its engines astern Unsure of your intentions, or doubt whether you are taking enough action to avoid a collision
16. In a situation where there is a risk of collision (as shown) , the blue vessel should: Keep its course and speed. It should take avoiding action only if the action taken by the giving-way vessel is insufficient. Reduce its speed or stop until it is apparent that the giving-way vessel is taking avoiding action. Alter its course
17. What is the speed limit for all vessels when operating within a distance of 50m from a swimmer or bather on all Victorian waters? Ten knots Five knots Any speed which you consider safe
18. When should the word 'mayday' be used three times at the start of a radio message? When a vessel has broken down and requires assistance When a vessel is in grave and immediate danger To introduce a navigational warning
19. A person falls overboard from your vessel while it is under way. What should you do? Swing the propeller away from them, throw a lifesaving device to them and keep them in sight at all times. Yourself or another passenger immediately jump overboard with lifesaving devices. Put the motor into reverse and back up to the person.
20. Your vessel's motor cuts out unexpectedly and a storm is approaching. Your first reaction should be: Fire flares Make sure everyone on board is wearing a PFD, then assess your options for raising the alarm. Swim for shore
21. Your vessel is in immediate and grave danger of sinking and you are about to fire a distress signal to attract the attention of nearby vessels. As it is night, you should use the following type of flare: Red flare White flare Orange smoke flare
22. Which of the following is not a distress signal? Red flare Green flare Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering outstretched arms
23. Over the past 12 months, how often have you worn a PFD when on board a powered recreational vessel up to and including 4.8 metres in length when it us underway? Never Seldom Sometimes Often Very often Always Not applicable (have not been in a vessel 4.8 or less metres in length)
24. Over the past 12 months, how often have you worn a PFD when on board a power recreational vessel more than 4.8 metres in length at times of heightened risk (i.e. when crossing a bar, in a designated hazardous area, at night or in bad weather? Never Seldom Sometimes Often Very often Always Not applicable (have not been in a vessel over 4.8 in length or have not been in a vessel of this size at a time of heightened risk)
25a. How often have you consumed alcoholic drinks within 6 hours of boat outings/trips or when underway or at anchor? Never Seldom Sometimes Often Very often Always (if no go to Question 27)
25b. When did you consume this alcohol? (choose as many as applicable)? Before getting underway While underway At anchor Other
26. What type(s) of boating activity were you engaged in when you drank alcohol (choose as many as applicable)? Fishing Waterskiing, wakeboarding or other towed sport Cruising Sailing Family outing Other, please specify Not applicable
27. Do you believe that alcohol use plays a role in boating accidents? Yes No Don't know
28. Do you agree or disagree that the following things would improve your enjoyment of recreational boating?
a) All people who operate boats should be required to have licences? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree b) People who operate boats should be required to pass a practical skills test to demonstrate their knowledge of boating regulations and ability to operate a vessel? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree c) Persons of all ages should be required to wear a personal floatation device (PFD) when on a boat that is underway? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree d) Laws restricting boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs should be strongly enforced? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree e) There should be stricter regulations and more enforcement to control reckless ('hoon') boaters? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree f) The amount and/or type of boating should be restricted in certain areas? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
a) All people who operate boats should be required to have licences? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
b) People who operate boats should be required to pass a practical skills test to demonstrate their knowledge of boating regulations and ability to operate a vessel? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
c) Persons of all ages should be required to wear a personal floatation device (PFD) when on a boat that is underway? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
d) Laws restricting boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs should be strongly enforced? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
e) There should be stricter regulations and more enforcement to control reckless ('hoon') boaters? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
f) The amount and/or type of boating should be restricted in certain areas? Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree
29. Do you expect to get your licence by Sitting the test at VicRoads Attending a boat course (if so please specify which one)
If you are interested in your results for the 'Safety Knowledge' section of this survey please leave us your email address and we will send the results back to you.
Email:
We would like to contact you again by phone once you have passed your licence to see if your safety attitudes and behaviours have changed. If you are willing to take part in this 10 minute follow-up please give us your phone number:
Phone number:
If you are intested in a copy of the final results of this study please provide us with your postal details:
Address:
Please press submit to lodge the completed survey
