Why should passengers be able to hold onto the operator of a PWC?

Passengers should be able to hold onto the operator of a personal watercraft (PWC) primarily to prevent injury in case of a sharp turn. When a PWC takes a sharp turn, the forces acting on both the operator and the passengers can be significant. By holding onto the operator, passengers can brace themselves and mitigate the risk of being thrown off or losing their balance, which can lead to accidents or injuries. Secure hand-holding provides stability and minimizes the chance of a sudden shift in weight that might otherwise result in a loss of control.

Maintaining focus by keeping the operator centered is important, yet passengers holding on mainly aids in physical stability rather than concentration. While steering the PWC is the operator’s responsibility, passengers are not typically involved in control. Furthermore, the balance during acceleration is mostly dependent on the inherent design of the PWC and how the operator manages their movements. Overall, ensuring that passengers can securely hold onto the operator contributes significantly to safety during operation.