France’s top auditor, the Cour des Comptes, is calling for legislation to make hikers whose ‘risky behavior’ leaves them in need of rescue services pay the cost.
With the country facing austerity on a number of fronts, the Cour made the suggestion, pointing out that a number of other countries, including Austria, Germany and Switzerland, charge foreign nationals for rescue services, which can run as high as €9000. The proposed legislation in France would apply to French citizens as well as visitors. The Cour estimated the annual cost of mountain rescue services at almost €107 million.
There’s pushback, as might be expected, from the union of mountain guides, whose leader told the Times of London “Why should mountain sports enthusiasts be treated any differently from people who have road accidents? Why question the principle of free mountain rescues when there are many more victims of drowning? And what about health problems caused by smoking? Smokers aren’t forced to take out insurance to continue smoking.”
