Human Error Plays Critical Role in Boating Accidents
Over 65 percent of all Ohio boating accidents in 2006 were caused by one controllable factor: human behavior.
National accident studies have estimated that for every fatality there are 10 accidents and for every 10 accidents, there are 600 near misses. Safety -- through knowledge and skill -- becomes the process of preventing accidents.
In 2006, there were a total of 143 boating accidents reported in Ohio with 79 injuries and 12 fatalities. Passenger/Skier Behavior, Alcohol Use, Careless/Reckless Operation, and Operator Inattention combined to cause one third of the reported accidents, resulting in half of the 12 fatalities. (In 2005, 166 accidents were reported, also with 12 fatalities.)
"Eleven out of the 12 boating-related deaths in 2006 involved victims who were not wearing a lifejacket," said Michael E. Quinn, Acting Chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. "We and our partners across the state strive to teach boating rules and regulations and how to manage risk. The most vital step to survival is wearing a lifejacket."
A combination of state boating safety efforts along with safety efforts at the federal level, education courses by volunteer organizations, improved technology of building safer boats, and public awareness has accomplished a great deal to reduce the number of boating fatalities.
The Division of Watercraft continues to target education and enforcement efforts to reach more boaters. It is always devastating when a day of recreation turns to a day of tragedy. Human error plays a critical role in boating accidents. Don't become a statistic.
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