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FLORIDA RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCIDENT STATISTICS SHOW DECLINE

There is welcome news regarding recreational boating in Florida waters. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Division of Law Enforcement, Boating Safety Section is pleased to announce a decrease in the number of recreational boating accidents and fatalities in the state last year. Statistics for 2000 show the number of total fatalities to be at the lowest rate in a decade, and the number of boating accidents was the lowest since 1994. Alcohol-related fatalities also declined compared to 1999 statistics. In addition, these encouraging figures come when the number of registered recreational vessels in Florida is at an all-time high.

The annual Boating Accident Statistical Report is compiled by the FWC's Boating Safety Section at the end of each calendar year. Figures are obtained directly from boating accident investigative reports submitted by investigating officers. Florida law requires vessel operators involved in an accident to report the incident immediately to law enforcement officers, and the investigating officer is required to file an accident report with the Boating Safety Section.

Here are some highlights from the 2000 Florida Boating Accident Statistical Report:

• The number of total registered Florida recreational vessels was 840,684. This is an all-time high and up from 829,971 in 1999;
• The number of total recreational accidents was 1,194. This is the lowest number since 1994 and down from 1,292 accidents in 1999;
• For the first time in more than a decade, Florida did not have the highest number of recreational boating fatalities in the country. In 2000, Florida ranked third with 46 deaths, behind Texas (52) and California (51);
• The number of alcohol/drug related accident fatalities was 10. This figure is down 20 percent from the previous year;
• Total personal watercraft (PWC) accidents were at a seven-year low in 2000.

Statistics concerning personal watercraft have been of particular concern in recent years. Figures for 2000 indicate that personal watercraft comprised less than 13 percent of all registered vessels, but accounted for 32 percent of all accidents and 45.7 percent of all injuries. Of interest is the fact that of all PWC accidents, 74 percent occurred on vessels that were being rented or borrowed.

The FWC's Boating Safety Section is certainly pleased with the positive trends shown in the latest statistics, but Capt. Paul Ouellette, FWC's boating safety coordinator, stressed that there is still much work to be done.

"There will always be room for improvement," Ouellette said. "Getting information to the public will continue to be the key. Educating boaters in an effective, efficient way is one of our biggest goals, and the best way to keep these accident numbers down."

The complete 2000 Boating Accident Statistical Report will be available on-line via this link. Any questions should be directed to FWC's Boating Safety Section at (850) 488-5600.

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