I have read all of this with interest and can see valid points from both sides of the argument so don't have a strong opinion myself but there are a few questions....
Realistically, are clubs / fellow drivers etc going to accept it when (not if) someone refuses to marshall? If its voluntary then no one should be forced, but in my experience you often are otherwise you are threatened with being penalised.
I will always marshall and will always try to marshall as I would wish to be marshalled myself, but honestly, if someone else refused on safety grounds then that
should be graciously accepted. Of course, we all know this would spread like wildfire until no-one wanted to marshall anymore and when asked why safety would always be the get out clause, even if it had nothing to do with it (laziness, broken car to fix, hung over etc etc...)
Secondly, all examples talk of cars colliding with people and therefore the blame at least partially being lying with the victim for stepping into the path of the oncoming vehicle.
What is the score when no car is involved? Last winter I fell over 3 times at Stotfold whilst marshalling and I saw others running into double figures also fall or slip over. The astro gets like an ice rink given some moisture in the air and a cold day.
Fortunately each time I was able to get up with no more than a sore ass/leg/wrist/back etc and carry on. What would have happened if I had broken something though, who is to blame then? If someone slipped and fell on a wet floor in a shopping mall, you can guarantee someone would pay for it. If someone tripped due to unsafe paving in the high street then someone would pay for it....
So is it any different on an RC track that has been exposed to the elements? Should a track have those little 'wet floor' signs for such occasions?
Dont get me wrong, I am not advocating the ambulance chasing type but I am interested to see where this scenario sits with regards to any insurance cover or who may be liable?
Returning back to the point of being hit by cars, I always look to see what else is approaching before stepping onto the track and if there are car(s) within a couple of seconds of me I let them pass first before marshalling the stricken car. This is surely common sense in the name of safety, but if that is the case then why do drivers of the stricken car get rowdy about not being marshalled as quickly as they would like.....
