News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2001

Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Reports Fantastic Safety Record For
Personal Watercraft In 2000

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristin Young 202-775-1401
or
Allison Stanfill (202) 721-1621

Pennsylvania - The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission recently released its "2000 Pennsylvania Boating Accident Analysis" which shows a dramatic drop in personal watercraft (PWC) accidents and injuries. The annual report lists the number of reported recreational boating accidents for 2000. Officials recorded only 13 PWC accidents in 2000, 23 less than in 1999, and only 11 total injuries for 2000. These dramatic reductions, causing the lowest figures since 1992, occurred while more than 3000 new PWC, which includes the brand names Sea-Doo, Wave-Runner and Jet-Ski, were registered in the state. The Analysis also reports 2000 was the eighth straight year there were no fatalities on board a PWC.

The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) is not surprised by the dramatic reduction. For years, the industry has been leading the charge to ensure safe and responsible use of personal watercraft, spearheading minimum age requirements and mandatory education. Pennsylvania mandatory education laws once again prove that education and strict enforcement result in the dramatic reduction in accidents, injuries and collisions.

Monita Fontaine, Executive Director of PWIA is pleased with the dramatic drop, "Personal watercraft are a family recreation, and safe and responsible use is an integral part of the experience. That is why the personal watercraft industry has made it a priority to work with local boating authorities and legislators to make our waterways safer for everyone. Pennsylvania's dramatic reduction in accidents is proof positive of this hard work, and we expect the trend to continue as thousands of boaters enjoy Pennsylvania's waterways," she added.

According to Daniel Martin, Boating Safety Education Manager for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission,"because of mandatory education, all boaters operating personal watercraft knew the rules, and that resulted in a sharp decline in accidents and injuries. We can also thank our law enforcement officers for stepping up educational efforts for PWC riders."

The following are several facts you may not know about personal watercraft:

Personal watercraft manufacturers have invested in technological advances since 1998, resulting in cleaner, quieter and more efficient crafts. Today's PWCs have up to 75% fewer emissions and are up to 70% quieter than 1998 models.
The personal watercraft industry has loaned more than 11,000 personal watercrafts to federal, state and local agencies nationwide, including Pennsylvania. These boats have been used for saving lives, patrolling, removing debris and saving endangered wildlife.

Personal watercraft are a family boat. A study by Bowe Marketing Research revealed the majority of personal watercraft owners are married with families (71%). Theaverage owner is a middle-aged, highly educated, white-collar worker with extensive boating experience. 73% of those people who own personal watercraft are the primary users.

For more information, please contact Amy Fox at (202) 775-1401 or Allison Stanfill at (202) 721-1621.