Boating Accident Facts
In 2000, 701 people died boating and there were 4,355 boating-related injuries. Of the deaths, 519 boaters drowned and a life jacket would have saved the lives of about 445 of those boaters.
Boaters are at a greater risk of dying when involved in an accident during fall and winter months and this is due to the colder weather and water, and fewer boaters and patrol officers in the area.
Alcohol involvement in accidents accounted for 31% of all boating fatalities and boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above .10 percent are estimated to be more than 10 times likely to be killed in a boating accident than boat operators with zero blood alcohol concentration.
Further, nearly 70% of all reported accidents involve operator controllable factors. The primary causes of accidents are operator inattention, careless/reckless operation, operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed and no proper lookout.
Snowmobiles
Each year about 110 people die riding snowmobiles and 13,400 hospital emergency room patients are treated for injuries involving snowmobiles. Nearly 40% of reported snowmobile deaths resulted from collisions with trees, wires, bridges and other vehicles. Other deaths occurred when snowmobiles rolled pinning victims or entered water falling through ice.
Safe snowmobiling requires the following:
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Never drive your snowmobile alone or on unfamiliar ground. |
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Drive on established and marked trails or in specified use areas. |
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Avoid waterways. |
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Avoid driving in bad weather. |
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Watch ahead to avoid rocks, trees, fences, ditches and other obstacles. |
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Slow at the top of hills. |
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Don't hurdle snow banks as you have control only when your skis are on the ground. |
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Learn snowmobile traffic laws and regulations for the area. |
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Be sensible about stopping at roads or railroad tracks. Signal turns, avoid tailgating and control speed. |
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Use extra caution driving at night. Do not go faster than your headlights allow you to see. |
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Never drink while driving your snowmobile. |
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Be sure the snowmobile is properly maintained. Some cases report that the throttle sticks, leading to loss of control. Snowmobiles manufactured before 1983 may not have a "throttle interruption device" designed to shut off the snowmobile if the throttle sticks. |
ATV Safety
Obviously, most of the safety rules above apply to operating ATVs and other vehicles. Certainly, proper training and safety education courses should be taken immediately upon the first-time purchase of an ATV. Also, the serious risks involved with children younger than 16 operating or riding on adult-sized ATVs should be avoided. Further, the three-wheel ATVs should be traded-in for the safer four-wheel variety. Finally, proper safety equipment including a helmet should be worn at all times.
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