Posted on Thu, May. 22, 2008

Reduce rate of boating accidents in Monroe, Miami-Dade counties

By MAUREEN HEALEY

National Safe Boating Week is here. This is an important annual event when boaters across the nation help emphasize the role each of us plays in keeping our waters enjoyable and accident-free. With more registered boats in Florida than in any other state, this is especially important

The good news is accidents over a five-year period (2003-2007) in Florida have declined 34 percent while the number of registered boats has increased by more than 48,000 vessels. Accidents involving personal watercraft declined 33 percent during that same time period. Meanwhile, the total number of registered personal watercraft increased approximately 28 percent. Miami-Dade County alone is home to nearly 12,000 registered personal watercraft.

This is good news, but we cannot rest on our laurels while Florida, and specifically Miami-Dade, ranks high on the national charts for all boating accidents -- particularly because most accidents can be prevented when boaters put safety first.

The leading boating accidents are collisions with other boats or fixed objects such as buoys, channel markers or docks. Among the major causes of collisions, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), are operator inattention, excessive speed, inexperience and alcohol use. Considering these are all causes that boaters can change many more boating accidents, injuries and fatalities can be avoided.

Miami-Dade ranks second for boating accidents in the state after Monroe County. Seven in 10 boaters involved in accidents reported that they had not taken a boating safety class, which can help reduce accidents. Florida law requires all boaters 21 years of age and younger to pass a class before leaving the dock.

When it comes to life jackets, the rule is simple -- wear it! According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 90 percent of people who drowned in 2006 were not wearing a life jacket. Because accidents are never expected and occur in a matter of seconds, stowed life jackets don't work. Inflatable belt pack and suspender life jackets are good choices for boaters who don't want to wear a traditional style life jacket while out on the water all day.

While there is much that boaters can do to improve safety on the water, there are also responsibilities that fall on policymakers. It's important that waterways are kept open and navigable, markers and signs are properly maintained and boating laws are enacted and enforced. I applaud the Florida Legislature for recently considering legislation to raise the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft to 16 from 14. Local law enforcement in Miami, the FWCC, the U.S. Coast Guard and others all work to keep our treasured pastime enjoyable. These agencies play an important role in making our waterways safer.

Overall, Florida has been a leader in keeping waterways safe. There is, however, a serious safety hazard that exists in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Miami. The federal legislation that created the Intracoastal in 1919 established it as a waterway that would provide safe passage for all vessels. This remains true for thousands of miles of the Intracoastal spanning the Eastern Seaboard with the sole exception of a 17-mile stretch that runs through Biscayne National Park.

Today, a personal watercraft operator is forced to go around the park, venturing 10-12 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean to travel north or south of the park's boundary versus through the park, two to three miles offshore. This presents a dangerous situation that can be easily resolved by allowing personal watercraft access in the park, which is enjoyed by all other boat operators.

Advocating for boating safety is a never-ending journey. There are too many accidents and collisions on the water each year that are avoidable. Celebrate National Safe Boating Week by enrolling in a boating safety course even if you've been boating for years. Bring your boat to a free vessel safety check, get new life jackets and review boating safety with your family before you leave the dock. Remember to Boat Smart from the Start, and you will have a great summer enjoying American's No. 1 pastime.

Maureen A. Healey is the executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association a member of the board of directors for the National Safe Boating Council, which sponsors National Safe Boating Week.

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