As the weather gets nicer and people venture out on the water in their boats it is important to remember – safety first. Last week was National Boating Safety week.
The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is an organization works to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from recreational boating. The more boat operators there are out there who have boating safety instruction, wear life jackets, and don’t take risks, the better it is for everyone.
Their efforts have seen success in recent years. Last year our nation reduced the number of deaths from boating related accidents by 14.1%. But that still means 651 people died, which is far too many. Most of these accidental deaths could easily be prevented. The NSBC produced a video to help people understand some of the common unforeseen dangers in a day on the water.
The leading factor contributing to boating deaths? Alcohol.
Part of the reason for this is that when you are out all day on a boat in the sun, bumping around, trying to squint and focus you become tired and dehydrated. It may sound benign, but just one or two drinks out on a boat can have the same effect as four or five on land.
Washington, already a leader in impaired driving legislation passed a new law this year getting tougher on those who boat under the influence. SB 5437, signed by the governor last month, expands the state’s existing BUI statutes to include marijuana, gives law enforcement better tools to catch those who continually flout the law, and establishes specific boating safety criteria for those who operate, rent, lease, or charter boats.
Boat safe, boat happy!