Hi Dave,
When you look at the number of deaths and the chronological order in which they happened, and then compare it to the number of persons getting into or doing the sport, I think you'll find the sport is getting safer all the time.... in a big way!
In the first couple of years of kiting in Australia, there were about 2 deaths a year but there were only probably two hundred kiters in the entire country at the most at that time. Thats about 1% fatality rate per year.
Looking at it nowadays there have been, I think, only two deaths in the last three years from kiteboarding in Oz, but now there are a probably more than fifteen hundred kiters in Australia. That would be .... er .... um .... well, it would be stuff all as a percentage. (C'mon math freaks throw me a bone here
)
There are several reasons, IMHO, that have contributed to the change.
1. People now want to take lessons before they buy gear.
2. People take more lessons than they used to in years gone by.
3. The quality of lessons have improved from what it used to be.
4. The equipment has become much more user friendly.
5. Safety Systems are better designed (for the most part).
6. People are better educated about safety and dangerous behaviour.
7. General safety awareness is much better.
8. The community of kiters is larger and therefor more likely to see someone about to do something wrong and step in prior to the problem.
The sport is still not a completely safe sport and it never will be, it's and extreme sport, but the statistics speak for themselves.
Good winds and be safe,
. 
