Labor Day traditionally marks the end of the summer boating season, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges boaters to use extra caution over the holiday.
"We should mark the end of the summer on a high note," Capt. Richard Moore of the FWC's Boating and Waterways Section said. "We're urging boaters to operate their vessels with caution, slow down a little, have all the necessary safety equipment, and wear life jackets. If you drink alcohol, use a non-drinking designated driver, and, most importantly, pay close attention to what's going on around you."
Florida has 1 million registered vessels, and accident statistics are sobering.
Florida recorded 54 boating fatalities in 2008, with more than 70 percent of the victims drowning. Typically, deaths occurred from falls overboard or vessels capsizing or flooding. The FWC urges boaters to purchase and wear an inflatable life jacket while boating.
Most of Florida's reportable boating accidents involved a boat running into another boat, a fixed object, a person in the water or a submerged object. The FWC also reminds boat operators to maintain 360-degree awareness at all times when on the waters to help avoid collisions.
"Unfortunately, as boat registrations increase so does the need for boater education and safety practices to reduce the frequency of accidents on congested waterways," Moore said.
He said tragedies too often mar holiday weekends.
The FWC and many of its boating safety partners offer boating safety courses to the public. For information, visit www.MyFWC.com/Boating.
