| Boating is a very popular summertime activity for | | | | million in property damage. |
| many families, and boating is a year-round pastime | | | | Approximately 70% of all fatal boating accident |
| for many men and women. But boating can become | | | | drowned. Of those who drowned, 87% were not |
| very dangerous when boats are not operated | | | | wearing their personal floatation device. Boating |
| properly or when boaters take to the water under | | | | accident information reveals that over 400 lives could |
| inclement weather conditions. Every year, the United | | | | have been saved that year if boaters had worn their |
| States Coast Guard compiles statistics on reported | | | | lifejackets. |
| recreational boating accidents. The statistics are | | | | Factors Involved in Accidents |
| derived from accident reports that are filed by the | | | | The most common type of boating accident |
| owners and operators of vessels involved in | | | | reported was a collision with another vessel. The two |
| accidents. | | | | biggest causes of fatalities, however, are capsizing |
| Boating Regulations | | | | and falls overboard. The factors most often |
| Current regulations require that the operator of any | | | | attributed to boating accidents are reckless |
| vessel, that is used for recreational purposes and is | | | | operation, operator inattention, excessive speed and |
| numbered, to file a Boating Accident Report (BAR) | | | | operator inexperience. Alcohol use was either a direct |
| when any of the following occurs: | | | | or indirect contributing factor in approximately |
| · A person dies | | | | one-quarter of all boating fatalities in 2005. Open |
| · A person is injured and requires medical | | | | motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin |
| treatment at a place other than the accident site | | | | motorboats were the three types of vessels most |
| · A person disappears from the vessel | | | | frequently involved in a boating accident in 2005. |
| · Damage to vessels and other property | | | | Boating accidents can certainly be prevented. When |
| totals $2,000 or more or there is a complete loss of | | | | operating a recreational vessel, steps can be taken |
| any vessel | | | | to prevent an accident or to minimize damage if an |
| Boating accidents involving death, serious injury or | | | | accident does occur: |
| someone's disappearance must be reported within 48 | | | | · Wear lifejackets at all times |
| hours of the occurrence. Damage reports have to be | | | | · Do not consume alcohol while boating |
| made within 10 days of the occurrence. | | | | · Be aware of the weather |
| The total number of accidents reported in 2005 was | | | | · Use any available distress-alerting and GPS |
| 4,969. The number of fatalities from boating | | | | technologies |
| accidents in 2005 was 697, and the number of | | | | If you are involved in a boating accident, a report |
| injuries from boating accidents in that year was 3,451. | | | | must be filed within 48 hours of the incident if there |
| In 2005, there were almost 13 million recreational | | | | is injury, death or disappearance of a person. |
| vessels registered with the United States Coast | | | | Accidents involving damage only must be reported |
| Guard, and boating accidents caused just under $39 | | | | within ten days of the accident. |