[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Next on his agenda was to limit the size and HP of privately owned boats.

Sour grapes? That is simply not true. This was never on his "agenda". Dr. Pilliod was a sincere, hard working and honest man. Why do you feel the need to bring the speed limit debate into this thread and to smear this deceased individual? And fortunately for Dr. Pilliod's legacy, the Maine Patrol is fully on board in support of the need for a speed limit on Winni. Below is Lt. Wade's testimony from last April 2023 in support of the current law which was supported with an almost unheard of 18:0 vote in the R. R. & D. Committee and with hundreds of letters in support of the speed limit and only a handful opposing the current law.

April 17, 2023


Representative Andrew Renzullo
Chairman, House Resource, Recreation and Development



Chairman Renzullo,

I am writing to request my testimony to the House Transportation Committee on March 8, 2023, in reference to HB 448, a bill relative to Lake Winnipesaukee speed limitations, be entered into the record. Below is the testimony I gave in front of the Committee that day. Thank you for your consideration.


Good afternoon, I am Lieutenant Dennis Wade, Commander of the NH State Police Marine Patrol. I am here representing the Department of Safety, Division of State Police, and to testify against House Bill 448.

Lake Winnipesaukee is one of about 30 lakes in New Hampshire where a per se speed limit exists. The speed limit on most of these other 30 lakes is 10mph. With just a few being above that. Winnipesaukee currently has a speed limit of 45mph from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, basically daytime. And 30 mph at night. These speed limits are not absolute, as they are allowed only where no other hazard exists that requires a lower speed. These hazards include, but are not limited to, other boat traffic, weather, waves, sun glare, swimmers, and water debris. Other than the per se speed laws, the law requires operators to drive in a way that they do not put the lives and safety of others at risk or that they do not drive in a careless or negligent manner. The Department of Safety believes that 65mph will put the safety of the public at risk.

Driving a boat at 65mph can be dangerous. A boat moving at 45mph is traveling at 66 feet /sec., where a boat moving at 65mph is traveling at 95.5 feet/sec. Almost 30 more feet per second. This 30 feet could determine the time needed for a driver to avoid a crash. The average perception & reaction time for a person is approximately 1.5 seconds. This is ‘perception and reaction’ time for a driver who is actively paying attention. In those 1.5 seconds, a boat traveling at 45mph will travel 99 feet. At 65mph, a boat will travel 142 feet. Again, this is reaction time. Then the driver’s action must take place to avoid whatever hazard exists. Unlike motor vehicles, boats do not have brakes, requiring additional stopping time and distance on the water. An operator can only throttle back and maybe even put the boat into reverse. Still, this will not stop a boat quickly and the steerage of a boat does not operate the same when in neutral.

Lake Winnipesaukee is used for many different recreational activities, including water skiing, swimming, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, sailing, motor boating, and many more. There needs to be a balance in the use by all these recreationalists, to include motorboats. Although there is an area defined by this law where the 65 mph speed limit would be allowed, that area will be hard to distinguish. There are no defined edges in the water like you have on roads. No sidewalks, yellow and white lines, no travel lanes, and no traffic control devices. Add in that not everyone on the lake knows the lake, has been there before, and will not be familiar with the boundaries discerned by this law, this can make for a dangerous mix.

Having the area defined through written law, will not be the same as having a clearly defined area that a boater can understand. When driving a car, the road is defined. You know when you turn onto and off a road, you have curbs and intersections. You also have speed limits signs and traffic control devices, caution signs, and yield signs. This will not be the case on Lake Winnipesaukee should this bill pass. How will a boater know they are in a 65 mph zone. Not necessarily because they plan on going that fast, but so they can be more cautious of other boaters that might. There are kids and other novice boaters who boat on the lake. Are they going to know where they are and what hazards to look for? In order to sign this area so all users knew that this was a 65mph zone, it would take an unknown number of buoys to be placed, at an unknown cost. Buoys in unexpected places can pose a safety hazard. We do not want to create additional hazards, especially in an area that does not have environmental obstructions. This would also take away from the beauty of this lake.

Two other items to consider. Boats do not have seatbelts. Nothing to keep a passenger in the boat should the driver have to throttle back at 65 mph to neutral, or should it get hit by another boat or run aground. There are no airbags, no roof. Nothing from protecting passengers from being ejected should a dangerous situation present itself.

And, think of the interstate. We do not allow bicycles and pedestrians on the interstate because of the speed limit. Having a boat going 65 mph near someone canoeing, kayaking, or sailing, can be a recipe for disaster. And although these motorboats have just as much a right to use the lake, again, there needs to be a balance.

In summary, the Department of Safety does not recommend passing this legislation. It creates an enhanced concern for the safety of all users in this area, will cause confusion among boaters, especially those who are unfamiliar with the lake, and as presented, does not allow for proper enforcement of this zone based on the description of the area.



Respectfully,



Lieutenant Dennis Wade
NH State Police – Marine Patrol