News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2004

Florida Ranks #1 for Most Boating Accidents;
National Safe Boating Week Informs That Many Accidents Are Avoidable
When Boaters Put Safety First;
Governor Jeb Bush Commends PWIA for Raising Awareness in Florida

Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-721-1621
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

FORT PIERCE, Fla.—The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) joined the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) in Fort Pierce, Florida today to promote National Safe Boating Week. Florida has more recreational boats than any other state but also experiences the most boating accidents. Through raising awareness, PWIA and HBOI hope that many future accidents will be avoided.

National Safe Boating Week takes place May 22 through May 28 this year, on the eve of Memorial Day Weekend -- the unofficial opening of boating season. It is an awareness campaign sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council, of which the Personal Watercraft Industry Association is a member.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association estimates that 72 million Americans take to the water every year. There are nearly 13 million registered recreational boats in the U.S., almost one million in the state of Florida alone.

"Many boating accidents are avoidable if steps are taken by each boater to improve safety," stated Kirsten Rowe, Executive Director of PWIA. According PWIA, becoming a safe boater includes:

* Always wearing a life jacket (and wetsuit bottoms in the case of personal watercraft)
* Taking a boating safety education course
* Following local navigation rules and being a courteous and responsible operator
* Staying sober and never boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs
* Never leaving a child unattended or allowing a child to operate a vessel

"You can't necessarily predict when an accident might happen," Rowe explained, "that is why it is important that you boat with safety in mind. Wear your life jacket instead of keeping it stowed, take a boating safety course and maintain a safe distance from other vessels." In Florida, the number one type of accident in 2002 involved a collision with another boat and nationally, 85 percent of all boaters who drowned were not wearing a life jacket. "Fortunately 95 percent of personal watercraft users wear their life jackets," said Rowe, "we'd like to see this rate of life jacket usage among all boaters."

In a May 24 letter to PWIA and HBOI, Florida Governor Jeb Bush said, "It gives me great pleasure to commend you on your efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week." On the issue of boating safety, he continued, "By raising awareness about the steps boaters can take to increase safety and responsibility, we can reduce the number of fatalities associated with boating."

Boating safety education is a key component of PWIA's model legislation that it encourages lawmakers to adopt. The state of Florida mandates that any boater under the age of 22 who operates a vessel with more than 10 horsepower take an approved "Boater Safety" course.

"During National Safe Boating Week, we want to encourage all boaters -- not just those are under 22 years of age -- to take the boating safety course," stated Stephen McCulloch, Executive Director of the Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Program. "Statistics show that more adults 30 - 39 years old were involved in a boating fatality than any other age group. Safe boating practices also extend to protection of marine life and sensitive marine habitats of which we all enjoy. Safe Boating therefore, is a win-win, not only for people, but for dolphins and manatees as well," he noted.

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that 80 percent of all boating fatalities in 2002 occurred on boats where the operator had not taken a boating safety course. "An educated boater is a safer, more responsible boater," Rowe said. "Perhaps if many of these boaters had taken a safety course they wouldn't be an unfortunate statistic today. We hope that National Safe Boating Week encourages more boaters to take these courses, wear their life jackets and simply put safety and responsibility first," she concluded.

Florida requires that boating safety course be approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). They are available through the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons and other organizations. More information on these courses is available at http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org.

PWIA represents the five manufacturers of personal watercraft. As a result of remarkable technological advancements, modern personal watercraft are 75 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than those produced prior to 1998. PWIA advocates for state and local governments to implement reasonable guidelines such as mandatory boating safety education for PWC users, a minimum age of 16 to operate a PWC, use only during daylight hours, the establishment of no-wake zones, and strict enforcement of boating safety and navigation laws. Model legislation and other information on personal watercraft can be viewed at http://www.pwia.org.

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution was founded in Ft. Pierce, Florida in 1971 to support the exploration and preservation of the world's oceans. Today it is also Florida's premier marine mammal research facility. Because personal watercraft are easy to maneuver and lack an exposed propeller, Harbor Branch uses personal watercraft on loan from manufacturers to rescue and aid dolphin and manatee. For more information visit http://www.hboi.edu.

Note to newspapers: A boating safety features article is available for copyright-free publication. Please contact Brian Berry at 202-777-3524 for more information.