New punting regulations have been proposed in an attempt to improve safety on the River Cam.

The suggestions include a 17 year old age limit on skippers, a minimum hiring age of 16, and both mandatory first aid training and a safety briefing from chauffeurs. Other ideas include enlarged and pictorial safety signage in order for all nationalities to comprehend the safety guidelines fully.

The new rules would also have the power to prohibit operators from leasing punts at times of high flow or when conditions are deemed too dangerous.

While many of the regulations are unlikely to affect students – who usually hire out punts independently or use their colleges’ own - they are likely to have a big impact on how the public and tourists interact with the river.

Dr Philippa Noon, the river manager, stated that the expansion of the punting industry prompted the new rules and assured that they were in line with similar regulations in other towns and cities.

“[The new regulations] have been reviewed against other local authority guidelines," she explained, "and we are trying to harmonise with those.  We appreciate, however, that the River Cam is in many ways unique.” She went on to explain that poor punting conduct, particularly overloading and deliberate bumping, would be less likely under the new rules.

Dr James Kelly, Senior Tutor of Queens’ College welcomed the proposals, “It is always good to walk across the Wooden Bridge at Queens’ and see students and members of the public enjoying themselves on the river. But the backs do get extraordinarily congested in the height of summer."

Dr Kelly continued, "I saw at least two punters in the water this year. The potential for someone to receive a blow from a pole, or to be pitched overboard among solid hulls travelling at head height, is manifest. It seems to me that we ought to take all reasonable steps to mitigate unnecessary risk.”

Chris Woodward, a second year Medic frustrated at the often chaotic punting experience, agrees: “It is high-time the vastly under regulated punting industry was dealt with.”

Although the proposals have received a warm response from much of the University body, this does not seem to be shared by some Cambridge residents who are angered at the new age limits.Matthew Payne, a second year Classicist whose home is in Cambridge, stated: “This is an outrage. This is fine for students, but rubbish for normal Cambridge residents.”

Nick Ross-Lewin, an employee of Scudamore’s Punting Company, asserted that the new regulations “sound quite reasonable”, but considered the 16 year old age limit on self-hires harsh. “We get a lot of school parties. Fourteen year olds are perfectly fine and it would be a shame to stop them enjoying themselves.”

The ways in which these new proposals will be implemented will be decided by the Conservators at a meeting in January.