Credit: ACR Electronics
A Marine Log op-ed asks, “Is it not time for regulators to embrace the alternatives and make electronic flares permissible?”
Marine Inspection is definitely not in my wheel house, but if there are safer alternatives to pyrotechnical flares, it does seem they should be acceptable alternatives.
If we don’t have them on our own units already, maybe we should.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
USCG approved flares are pathetic and regulations should be revised to require all pyrotechnics to meet SOLAS while also permitting some matrix of rugged battery operated signalling devices (both radio and visual) for most situations.
As an AUX VE, I think we should get with the Times and go with Eflares and Mandate Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) for all boaters.