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With summer in full swing, boaters are in the peak of busy season on the water. And with more vessels at sea comes more situations prone to accidents. However, this year brings good news to the boating community as the United States Coast Guard (USCG) released the 2023 recreational boating statistics report showing a drop in fatalities and incidents.
According to the USCG, the report concluded that fatalities fell by 11.3% from 2022, while overall incidents decreased by 4.9%. The data is based on incidents that resulted in one of the following: death, disappearance, injury that required medical treatment beyond first aid, damages to a vessel, loss of a vessel, or other property damage equal to or exceeding $2,000.
The report also concludes that 75% of fatalities are attributed to individuals operating vessels who have not received proper safety instructions. USCG and organizations across the nation such as United States Power Squadrons and the National Safe Boating Council work diligently to prioritize water safety by advocating for laws and requirements and providing safety courses and helpful resources for recreational boaters.
The July 4th weekend is known to be the busiest holiday on the water, as well as a kickoff to the big cruising season. This holiday also means celebratory alcohol consumption and partying on the water, posing more risks.
Plus, this year the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) reported a statistically safer July 4th holiday weekend compared to past years. Even though the boating accident numbers decreased, the arrest rate increased, showing the state’s strict enforcement to benefit boater safety.
As of July 1, a new Maryland law was introduced, Nick’s Law, allowing the court system to prohibit Operating Under the Influence (OUI) offenders from operating a vessel in state waters for up to two to five years. NRP launched the Operation Dry Water campaign in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators as a joint effort to conduct what is known as “saturation patrols,” increasing the number of officer coverage in popular drinking areas throughout the state.
The boating industry offers tons of opportunities to take advantage of safety resources and get involved in the community. It’s up to the boater to ensure due diligence and responsible behavior when enjoying time on the water whether that means signing up for boating safety courses, conducting proper research and taking precautions for emergency preparation, or even taking Sea Tow Foundation’s Sober Skipper Pledge and promising to be a DD. Check out the following organizations for boater safety resources:
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