A look at the stats behind the accidents.

If you want to avoid a boating accident, you need to lower your odds of having one. Studying boating accident statistics is the first step. The next step is to identify the most likely causes of a boating accident. Then, with this knowledge, identify ways to minimize the risk of such accidents. To minimize the damage from an accident, you should also develop an emergency response plan.

If you were in a boating accident, odds are nearly 60 percent that you were in an open motorboat. Canoes and kayaks, although not nearly as dangerous as open motorboats, are involved in 20 percent of boating accidents that result in an injury. However, canoes and kayaks are only involved in about 5 percent of all fatal boating accidents.

TABLE: Vessel Types with the Top Casualty (Deaths) Numbers

Personal watercraft on the other hand, are involved in less than 8 percent of all fatal accidents, but about one-third of boating accidents that result in injuries.

TABLE: Vessel Types with the Top Casualty (Injury) Numbers

The number one to thing to look out for when you’re on a motor boat, is a collision with another vessel, which tops the list of the top five primary accidents. Of the types of accidents, a collision with another vehicle is over two times more likely than any other type of accident. This includes accidents that involve flooding, crashes into fixed object, falling overboard and skier mishaps.

TABLE: Top Five Primary Accident Types in 2008

If you’re in a motorboat, the one thing you want to be is extra cautious. And that does because careless operation and inattentiveness are the number one and two causes of boating accidents. But also make sure to pay attention to Mother Nature. She is only a half-percentage point behind. .

TABLE: Primary Contribution Factor of Accidents & Casualties That Result in Injuries, 2008

If you want to completely eliminate all the factors that contribute to boating accidents, consider not only inattentiveness, and carelessness, but also make sure that you appoint a person as look-out; about 15 percent of all boating accidents could be prevented with a good look-out. You can also prevent another 15 percent of accidents if you make it a point to avoid bad weather and hazardous waters.

To help here, make sure when you go out to sea that your satellite radio is tuned into the latest weather news, or you have a chartplotter display that provides real-time satellite weather radio. Also, make a point of downloading and studying hazardous zones on water maps. Then take some time to look at some underwater maps so you can have a look at the river or ocean terrain that you will travel over. And that’s especially true if you plan to take a dive. Rocky and turbulent waters, hidden under the surface of the sea, can quickly knock you unconscience and sweep you out to sea.

Electronics technology is another good way to lower the chance of a boating accident. Advanced collision detection warning systems are one way to prevent collisions with vessels. They can also be used, along with underwater object detection systems (sonar) to eliminate crashes with fixed objects, which ranks third on the list of boating accident types. Reliable GPS devices are also handy in an emergency.

Another factor examined in boating accidents is experience. And central to experience is information and training. So before you go out to sea, take a boat safety class. They will show you all the tips, tricks and latest technology you need to be safe.

However, as with all statistics, don’t take them on face value. They only tell part of the story. For example, where you boat is also a safety concern. Some places are just safer than others. Calm lakes are, of course, safer than rocky canyon rapids.

Although injuries in boating accidents far outnumber fatalities, if you want to avert a tragic death, the best thing you can do is to make sure everyone has a life jacket on and invest in an economical man overboard alarm system. The leading accident type that results in death is falling overboard. . And one of the reasons is that 86% of those who died while boating in 2008 were not wearing life jackets.

To prevent a boating death, you should also pay particular attention to the weather and the water. Over 25 percent of all boating deaths are directly attributed to bad weather and hazardous water conditions.

TABLE: Top 5 Accident Types Resulting in Death

And of course, you should watch the alcohol. Alcohol is a factor in about 8 percent of boating related injuries and about 28 percent of boating related deaths, just slightly ahead of bad weather and hazardous waters.

TABLE: Primary Contribution Factor of Accidents & Casualties That Result in Death, 2008

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