Have you ever noticed that when recreational boating makes the news, it’s usually for the wrong reasons? We hear about boating accidents or people being arrested for boating under the influence during holiday weekends. And of course, we can’t forget the stories about supposedly haunted lakes where we spend our time on the water.
What we rarely hear about are the good things recreational boating brings to our lives. If you’re a boater, you already know the peace, relaxation, and fun it offers. Recreational boating also has a major economic impact – contributing $230 billion to the economy, supporting 812,000 jobs, and sustaining 36,000 businesses. Still, the headlines often focus only on the negatives.
But what if I told you that we’re actually getting better at boating safety? You probably haven’t heard this, but according to the U.S. Coast Guard, boating fatalities have decreased by 26 percent since 2020. Boating-related injuries have dropped by 33 percent since 2019. The main reason? Better safety education. That’s good news, don’t you think?
Of course, education alone isn’t enough – it only helps if we apply what we learn. These numbers show that we’re not just learning safety practices, we’re putting them into action.
Are we all taking boating safety classes? Not necessarily. But many of us are reading up on it, watching videos online, discussing it with fellow boaters – or even reading articles like this one.
Consider this: maybe last year, you learned the rules about life jacket requirements. And this year, when a 10-year-old climbed aboard your boat, you made sure they were wearing a life jacket before leaving the dock – something you hadn’t paid much attention to in the past. That simple action made you part of the reason boating safety is improving. Every time a boater adopts a new safe habit, it makes the experience safer for everyone. It could even save a life.
The more we do, the better we get. Keep learning. Keep practicing. There are plenty of resources to help you stay informed about safe boating habits. Two great options are your local Coast Guard Auxiliary and your local chapter of America’s Boating Club.
So give yourself a pat on the back for the progress we’ve made. And let’s keep it going. Let’s make safe boating go viral.
