Boating while intoxicated significantly increases the risk of being or having a severe accident. It is also illegal.
Always designate a sober and experienced boat operator. Remember to stay safe, and use a BreathIQ breathalyzer to check someone’s sobriety. It is important to keep everyone safe while you’re enjoying the water. Do not risk your life and the lives of others.
• Studies have shown that over 50% of all water accidents involve the use of alcohol.
• Almost two-thirds of all fatal boating accidents involve alcohol use.
ALCOHOL IS A TOP PRIMARY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN RECREATIONAL ACCIDENTS IN ADDITION TO: *
1) Operator Inattention
2) Improper Lookout
3) Operator Inexperience
4) Excessive Speed
Alcohol impairs judgment and encourages risky behavior. All activities in or near the water are potentially dangerous. Combine that with alcohol and this significantly increases the chance of having an accident.
Alcohol can lead to these common accidents
• Collision with recreational vessel (#1 Accident Type 2019*)
• Collision with fixed object (#2 Accident Type 2019*)
• Grounding (#3 Accident Type 2019*)
• Falls overboard (#5 Accident Type 2019*)
• Ejection from a vessel
• Collision with swimmers
• Slip and fall injuries on wet surfaces
• Tripping over things and falls in a vessel
• Heat stroke and dehydration
• Swimming out too far, exhaustion
• Diving into shallow water or obstacles
VESSEL TYPES WITH THE TOP CASUALTY NUMBERS*
RANKED FROM HIGHEST
#1 Open motorboat
#2 Personal watercraft
#3 Cabin motorboat
#4 Canoe/kayak
#5 Pontoon
FACT: The highest number of accidents and fatalities occur in the months of June and July.
VESSEL ACTIVITY AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT 2019*
RANKED FROM HIGHEST
#1 Boating / Relaxation
#2 Fishing
#3 Towed Watersports
DEATHS BY VESSEL LENGTH*
RANKED FROM HIGHEST
#1) Length of 16’ or less
#2) 16 - <26’
#3) 26 - <40’
* Recreational Boating Statistics 2019
RCOMDTPUB P16754.33
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Coast Guard
Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety