BUGGY SAFETY The high attainable speeds are dangerous for buggiers and innocent bystanders. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of others you may impact with. Some safety guidelines for all buggying but especially for speed buggying: - keep clear of other beach or etc users - don't attempt winds, speeds or tricks that are beyond your ability - check your buggy at intervals for structural integrity, loose bolts, loose wheels etc - stay clear of other vehicles - stay clear of overhead wires etc. Remember you may have to let the kite go sometimes - use quick release handles (with wrist restraints) so at least there aren't handles flying through the air to damage people, possessions or worst of all, loop around electricity lines. - make sure you have a safe downwind recovery landing area for released kites - wear safety gear, helmet, boots, long trousers and jacket, etc, shoulders and elbows especially can collect grazes. - keep fit - fit people have less crashes and less injuries when they do crash. - running into other kite lines - necks and arms - is something to be vigilant for. For all this, buggying is proving to be a very safe sport. I'm sure injuries will occur, maybe have already, but with over 400 buggy's in use that I know of, I'm not aware of any significant injuries having occurred. Personally I've spent perhaps 500 hours buggying for a minor line burn and less than half a dozen elbow grazes. Bicycles are more dangerous! To convince the wider kite world that buggying is safe, maybe we should institute a Certificate of Proficiency, the possession of which could be mandated for buggiers doing demonstrations at Kite Festivals (the most difficult buggying environment, because of close proximity to scattered crowds, other stunt and single line kites and lines and often limited space). If existing kite organisers (wrongly in my opinion) choose to withold insurance cover from kite buggying, this Proficiency Certificate could be a lever for persuasion. It will be unfortunate for the wider fraternity of kite flying and for buggying if the two sports go their separate ways at this time.