Office Paperless Percent Statistics
On Tuesday, August 3, 2010, the United States Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety published statistics information for the 2009 recreational boating season. The publication, Recreational Boating Statistics 2009, notes an increase of 3.81 percent in boating accident deaths in spite of an overall reduction of 1.23 percent in the number of boating accidents.
Speaking about the data in a press release, Coast Guard Director of Prevention Policy, Rear Admiral Kevin Cook says, “The data in the 2009 publication echoes the message that life jacket wear is critical. Nearly 75 percent of the 736 people who died in boating accidents in 2009 drowned, and 84 percent of those victims reportedly were not wearing a life jacket. The two most important things boaters can do to prevent the loss of life is to wear a life jacket and take a boater education course.”
2009 Recreational Boating Statistics Summary
Recreational boating safety statistics have been published by the Coast Guard for 51 years. The effort represents a collaboration and exchange of information taking place between the states, territories and Coast Guard. Some highlights of the report include:
- There were 4,730 recreational boating accidents in 2009 that resulted in 736 deaths, 3,358 injuries and $36 million in property damage.
- The measured fatality rate was 5.8 deaths per 100,000 registered boats, representing an increase of 3.6% in fatalities and a 3.81 decrease in the number of accidents compared to 2008.
- Nearly 75% of fatal boating accident victims drowned and 84% percent of these people were not wearing a life jacket.
- Only 14% of deaths reported occurred on boats were the operator had taken a boating safety class.
- About 70% of all boating related deaths occurred on boats that were less than 21 feet in length.
- The top five primary contributing factors for boating accidents were operator inattention, operator inexperience, excessive speed, improper lookout and alcohol use.
- Alcohol use is cited as the leading contributing cause of fatal boating accidents.
- Boats most commonly involved in accidents were open motorboats (46%), personal watercraft (22%) and cabin motorboats (14%).
Boating Causality and Accident Reporting Guidelines
Maintaining accurate boat accident data is vital to national efforts aimed at improving boating safety. Without good baseline data, boating safety professionals would have no idea if safety interventions were effective. The Coast Guard uses the term “vessel” very inclusively, describing any sort of watercraft that is used as transportation on the water. This term includes things like canoes, rafts, rowboats, motorboats, sailboats, houseboats and personal watercraft.
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