Safety under wave overtopping - How overtopping processes and hazards are viewed by the public

Whilst researchers have substantially improved methods to predict wave overtopping, the public often seem to be unaware of the dangers of wave action at the coastline, as indicated by the 2-4 deaths each year in UK and Italy. This is compounded by ignorance by some engineers and managers of key aspects of overtopping, including the wide range of overtopping responses, effects of wave breaking on occurrence of violent overtopping, overtopping velocities or spatial distribution. This paper describes the strategy and initial findings of a "Partnership for Public Awareness" project to explore and improve understanding of these hazards, and thus to reduce deaths and injuries caused by wave overtopping. Updated guidance on overtopping hazards and tolerable limits on overtopping responses is also presented.