The Facts About Boating Accidents

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Michigan is certainly a state full of people who love spending time on the water. In 2013, Michigan was the state with the fourth largest number of registered boaters, only surpassed by California, Minnesota, and Florida. With peak boating season right around the corner, boaters all over the state are eagerly working to get their boats ready for the summer.

Before you hit the water for the first time, consider these facts about boating accidents. When you understand what causes boating accidents and fatalities, you’ll be able better to avoid them.

Top Causes of Boating Accidents

Every accident is caused by something. In the case of boating accidents, many of the top contributing factors are human error in one form or another. Operator inattention and improper lookout were the two largest contributing factors to boating accidents in 2014, while lack of operator experience was the third largest cause. Excessive speed, alcohol usage, machinery failure, and not following navigational rules were also in the top 10 causes of boating accidents. Things like weather, dangerous water conditions, and the force of a wave or wake were near the bottom of the list of the 10 most common causes.

Alcohol is the Leading Cause of Boating Fatalities

While alcohol isn’t the top cause of boating accidents in general, it is the leading cause of boating-related fatalities. In 2014, data collected by the U.S. Coast Guard showed that alcohol was the primary cause of 21% of boating deaths. Michigan boaters need to remember that some changes were made to state laws regarding drunk boating last year. The legal BAC limit for being able to operate a boat was lowered from 0.1 to 0.08 to bring it in line with what it is for driving a car.

Education Prevents Fatal Accidents

Education seems to be very strongly correlated to preventing boating accidents. In 2014, 77% of boating fatalities happened when the driver had no education. Only 23% of fatal boating accidents occurred when the boat’s operator had received boating safety instruction. Boaters who receive a nationally-approved boating safety education fared even better with only 12% of boating-related deaths happening with operators who had obtained one.

Life Jackets Save Lives

If you or any of your passengers happen to end up in the water, a life jacket is one of the best lines of defense to have. The vast majority of all fatal boating accidents in 2014 involved the victim drowning. Amongst those who drowned, 84% of them were not wearing life jackets. Since a passenger can end up going overboard within a split second, by the time a passenger realizes they’re headed into the water, it’s likely too late to put one on. Making sure you and your passengers wear life jackets the entire time they’re on the boat is definitely one of the best ways to stay safe.

Staying safe on your boat doesn’t have to be a challenge. Simply by wearing life jackets, avoiding alcohol, watching your speed, and taking a boater safety class, you’ll be well on your way to a safe but fun summer on your boat.