I agree with Todd W
In my country, you can get in your car ( in the city) and drive in any direction ( north, south, east, west ) and find your self in the desert or mountains, well except if when you hit the seashore. Many lives are lost and corpses found when people drive there unprepared. The story comes in the news for a few days and then forgotten. There is no gate that says (This is the beginning of the desert, wear your batman belt and stuffed backpack).

Much as I like that people lives to be saved , there is not much anyone can do about this other than spreading awareness. I wish that in your public parks or in our desert trails authorities put some big posters suggesting minimum requirements for what kind of expected environments. If people won't read or accept those suggestions, then nothing more can be done but wait for corpses to be found.

Just this last week I was in a local forum and one guy showed his camping and cave exploration equipement. It was extensive but with very obvious problem . He focused his attention on equipement that would help him AFTER a disaster takes place like a broken neck . He had an extensive FAK that would address the problem. However, he didnt have a very simple gadget that would tell others about his problem or whereabout (a whistle). I suggested to him that neither he or anyone in his team go down in a cave without having a whistle around his neck. And also suggested him a few cyalume tubes, which he seemed to know nothing about.