WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2013 Recreational Boating Statistics Wednesday, revealing that boating fatalities that year totaled 560 - the lowest number of boating fatalities on record.
From 2012 to 2013, deaths in boating-related accidents decreased 14 percent, from 651 to 560, and injuries decreased from 3,000 to 2,620, a 12.7 percent reduction. The total reported recreational boating accidents decreased from 4,515 to 4,062, a 10 percent decrease.
The fatality rate for 2013 of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 13 percent decrease from the previous year's rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $39 million.
“We are pleased that there have been fewer accidents on waterways in recent years and thank our partners for their work," said Capt. Jon Burton, director of inspections and compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. “Together we will continue to stress the importance of life jacket use, boating education courses and sober boating."
The above is a new press release from the CG. Of course, all the legislators will be patting themselves on their backs for all the new licensing and testing laws, along with everyone else who spends tax dollars to promote boating safety. But I suspect the poor economy and the price of fuel is keeping more people either on land or tied up at the dock.
From 2012 to 2013, deaths in boating-related accidents decreased 14 percent, from 651 to 560, and injuries decreased from 3,000 to 2,620, a 12.7 percent reduction. The total reported recreational boating accidents decreased from 4,515 to 4,062, a 10 percent decrease.
The fatality rate for 2013 of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 13 percent decrease from the previous year's rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $39 million.
“We are pleased that there have been fewer accidents on waterways in recent years and thank our partners for their work," said Capt. Jon Burton, director of inspections and compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. “Together we will continue to stress the importance of life jacket use, boating education courses and sober boating."
The above is a new press release from the CG. Of course, all the legislators will be patting themselves on their backs for all the new licensing and testing laws, along with everyone else who spends tax dollars to promote boating safety. But I suspect the poor economy and the price of fuel is keeping more people either on land or tied up at the dock.
