As one who works in the insurance trade I have long learnt not to underestimate the stupidity of the average punter, and the Law.

The doctine of the reasonable man "The man on the Clapham omnibus" still holds. The problem rises from the fact that the (UK) law now defines the average person as less than average intelligence. Hence the need to issue warnings.

The best I've seen in the UK was an the fitting instructions for a Weed/Rope Cutter to be fitted to a boats propeller - ' Caution - This can cause injury!.

As if the sane and sober person stick thier hand/foot into a revolving propeller !!!!! Cutter fitted or not.

On a different tack, at Whitstable on the Kent Coast, there exists a shingle bar extending a mile out to sea. It looks nice to walk upon on an ebbing tide. Its called 'The Street! Now the tide comes back fast. The Council puts warning notices - Warning of the danger.

Yet most summers the local inshore life boat is called out to retrieve parties caught by the tide. Not neccessarily alive.

Gareth