What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

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Bubba1235

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I ran across this link and was surprised by the information. http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/workflow_staging/Page/2010_Recreational_Boating_Statistics.pdf


Capsizing is the most deadly accident on the water.

Drowning, not injury is still the major reason for loss of life.

Operator in attention kills more people than alcohol or excessive speed.

Steering failure causes far more deaths than gasoline explosions/fires.

Lakes, Ponds, Reservoirs are more deadly than the Great Lakes, the Ocean, or rivers.

The vast majority of fatal accidents happen in no wind, no chop, sunny daylight, and 70to 79 degree (F) water.

Boats with no motor at all have the highest number of deaths.

42% of the children who died in 2010 died from drowning. 44% of those who drowned were wearing a life jacket.

The most deadly use of a boat is being at anchor.



Yes, it is an eye opener for me.
 
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edu01jose

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May 8, 2011
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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

When I took the power squadron test last year I was amazed too as they discussed this in a power point presentation.
 
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specmkr

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Aug 8, 2010
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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

Thanks for sharing. Great info
 
scoutabout

scoutabout

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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

Great report - thanks for posting.

Perhaps I'm reading the numbers incorrectly but I don't see that non powered craft have more deaths and it also looks to me that steering failure is tied with explosion for 1 death each. What am I missing?
 
45Auto

45Auto

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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

The annual accident report is always interesting reading.​

Operator in attention kills more people than alcohol or excessive speed.​
Click to expand...

In the real world you'll find that alchohol involvement in boating accidents is SEVERELY under-reported. The vessel operator is required to file a BOATING ACCIDENT REPORT (BAR) in case of an accident. With the fear of lawsuits, you can understand why most operators are very reluctant to list alchohol as a factor in an accident. You have 48 hours to submit the report if someone dies or is injured, or 10 days if it is property damage only.​

I was involved in law enforcement from 2000 to 2007, and VERY FEW people voluntarily admitted to alchohol impairment, even when they were so drunk we had to carry them off the boat!​

From the 2010 Safety Report:[/LEFT]

Alcohol Use as a Contributing Factor in Accidents & Casualties by State 06-10 (Table 8, Page 24)​

This table reflects a tally of all four causes of accidents listed for all national accidents, deaths and injuries. This table lists accidents where alcohol use by the vessel?s occupants was listed as a direct or indirect cause of the accident.​
Click to expand...

Accident Reporting as Required by Federal Law

Under federal regulations (33 CFR Part 173; Subpart C ? Casualty and Accident Reporting) the operator of any numbered vessel that was not required to be inspected or a vessel that was used for recreational purposes is required to file a BAR when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment:
1. A person dies; or
2. A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury; or
3. A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid; or
4. Damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 or more; or
5. There is a complete loss of any vessel.​


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The regulations also state the acceptable length of time in which the accident report must be submitted to the reporting authority. Boat operators or owners must submit:
1. Accident reports within 48 hours of an occurrence if:
a. A person dies within 24 hours of the occurrence; or
b. A person requires medical treatment beyond first aid; or
c. A person disappears from the vessel.​
2. Accident reports within 10 days of an occurrence if there is damage to the vessel/property only.
Click to expand...


 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

also if you look alcohol is hands down the highest contributor to fatalities.... so inattentive operators bang stuff up but drunks kill people
 
1980Galaxy

1980Galaxy

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 11, 2009
Messages
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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

some real eye openers... thanks for sharing

my favorite: seat broke loose: 11 accidents, 4 deaths, 6 injuries. CHECK YOUR SEATS, PEOPLE!
 
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robert graham

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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

I agree with the inattention part, looking at scenery, wildlife, eating/drinking, dropped something in bottom of boat, anything that takes your mind/sight/attention off of driving the boat, same as driving a car or flying a plane. Rule #1 for aircraft pilots: Fly The Plane! I'm as guilty as anyone of doing this and I really try to stay focused. Nice thing about a boat, if you've got something else to do, then just stop out of the channel for a few minutes, and do it!
 
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Home Cookin'

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Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

I think this summary is misleading, and with data like this, there is usually more to it (for example, more pedestrians are killed in crosswalks than jaywalking. Does this mean it's safer to jay walk? no, it means there are more pedestrians in the crosswalks)

Bubba1235 said:
I ran across this link and was surprised by the information. http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/workflow_staging/Page/2010_Recreational_Boating_Statistics.pdf


Capsizing is the most deadly accident on the water.

180 deaths. However, there are 141 deaths in canoes/kayaks, which are more likely to have "capsize" as the fatal event. We don't know if "capsizing" is the most deadly for motorboats.

Drowning, not injury is still the major reason for loss of life.

this would include drowning after a collision

Operator in attention kills more people than alcohol or excessive speed.

Not true. It causes more accidents (759 v. 330/337) but deaths are alchohol (126) v. inattention (49) and speed (18). Hazardrous water is 100 deaths, close to alcohol.

Steering failure causes far more deaths than gasoline explosions/fires.

Lakes, Ponds, Reservoirs are more deadly than the Great Lakes, the Ocean, or rivers.

Or are there more people on them per square mile? More inexperienced boaters? More speed? I don't think the body of water is as much a contributing factor as the boating that occurs there.

The vast majority of fatal accidents happen in no wind, no chop, sunny daylight, and 70to 79 degree (F) water.

More like "half" than "vast majority." And that's when there are more boaters out. See the pedestrian example.
But the highest percentage of accidents which are fatal occur Oct-April, with a big spike in February/March. Why? If you go overboard then, you die, but not in July: you may have more accidents but fewer are fatal in the summer. Likewise, while few accidents are fatal in calm conditions, a large percentage are fatal in bad conditions.

Boats with no motor at all have the highest number of deaths.

No. 193 with no motor; 348 motor; 131 unknown.

42% of the children who died in 2010 died from drowning. 44% of those who drowned were wearing a life jacket.
Remember, this includes drowning after an accident or in cold water.

The most deadly use of a boat is being at anchor.

No. 21 deaths at anchor. 198 cruising, 164 drifting, 132 rowing/paddling.
Half the deaths occurred while people were "boating/relaxing" (337 out of 672) but only 2 occurred while racing. So it's safer to race?



Yes, it is an eye opener for me.
Click to expand...
 
C

canuckjgc

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Aug 15, 2008
Messages
154
Re: What causes boating accidents and when do they happen?

672 deaths in one year from something that is supposed to be fun, so tragic.
 
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