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Boating While Under The Influence

Boating under the influence of alcohol is responsible for over 50% of boating fatalities every year. This percentage is rising as safety laws concerning personal floatation devices pushes down the death rate every year.

The number of recreational boating deaths in 1976 was 1,466. This was with an estimated 11.4 million boats for a rate of 12.4 deaths per 100,000 boats in use. Ten years later, in 1986, the number had dropped almost in half as the number of boats in use increased by almost 5 million. In 2005, the rate was less than half of the rate in 1976. What caused this steady decline? It can mostly be attributed to laws mandating the use of approved personal floatation devices in boats.

This eliminated a major cause of deaths. It was a shame that the Government had to step in and pass laws that made people stop being stupid and realize the importance of a personal floatation device when operating the high speed recreational boats that were becoming popular. Now, the main culprit is another form of stupidity. Alcohol and wild parties have long been associated with boating, but the operator of a boat has no more business being drunk than the driver of an automobile.

In addition to Federal laws, the majority of States have passed OUI or BUI (operating under the influence/boating under the influence) laws modeled after drunk driving laws. Boaters are being watched closer on public waterways and the tolerance level is being dropped to zero in many areas. Boat operators are often beginning to adapt the highly successful designated driver approach that has been helpful in reducing deaths on the highways.

There seems to be something about the fresh air, the blowing wind, and the feel of water beneath the boat that increases the effects of alcohol on the decision making and motor skills of boat operators. Although tests on drunk boating have not been as intensive as those done on drunk driving, much of the data can be transferred. The bottom line is that operating a boat, like operating a vehicle on the road, requires a sober and alert driver. Many people may look at the deaths per number of boats statistics to make a case that this is really a minor problem. But isn’t one death on the water too many?

There is even a boating based organization to champion the fight against drunk boating. BADD, or Boaters Against Drunk Driving, has become active in promoting stricter laws and educating boaters to the hazards of boating under the influence of alcohol and drugs. No one is against having a good time on the water, but the operator of a boat is like the Captain of the ship and in his hands rests the responsibility for the lives of himself, his passengers, and others on the waterways. It should be a sobering responsibility.

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Source: www.articlesbase.com

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Boating While Under The Influence