U.S. Coast Guard Safety Initiative Asks You to Boat Responsibly

“Boat Responsibly” is the U.S. Coast Guard’s public boating safety outreach initiative, which encourages all recreational boaters to take responsibility for their actions on the water.

As a boat owner or operator, you are responsible for your safety and the safety of your passengers. That’s why we say: “Boat Responsibly!”

The Facts

*The U.S. Coast Guard’s most recent boating-related accident statistics show:

• 710 fatalities — 3,474 injuries — nearly $44 million in property damage.
• 90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.
• Alcohol was the leading contributing factor in approximately one-fifth of all boating fatalities.
• About 70 percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.
• The most reported type of accident was a collision with another vessel. However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents and accounted for the vast majority (59 percent) of all boating fatalities.
• Overall, operator inattention, carelessness/reckless operation, excessive speed and passenger/skier behavior are the leading contributing factors of all reported accidents.

Recreation boating accidents are tragic because the great majority of accidents are preventable!

Boat Responsibly Key Messages or What You Can Do To Boat Safer

Wear a life jacket

Never boat under the influence

Take a boating safety course

Get a free Vessel Safety Check (VSC)

If you are a boating safety advocate who'd like to help spread the word by downloading boating safety materials, visit the Boat Responsibly Resource Center.

*U.S. Coast Guard 2006 Accident Report.