With warm Florida weather, beautiful ocean breezes and endless horizons on the water, it is perfect for taking the boat out. Unfortunately, not all boaters are responsible boaters. Although you might not think an accident can happen with all that open water, it can and does.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Florida leads most other states in boating accidents and fatalities. There are many causes of boating accidents, but they are usually one of these three.
Many people use the open water as a chance to relax and unwind. For some people, this means drinking or using other substances. Like any other vehicle, it is dangerous to operate a boat when you are when intoxicated. Intoxicated boating is a major problem.
This is particularly true of boating on saltwater. Even one drink can impair your ability to react or function. Not only are boats slower to respond to course correction, but the saltwater also dehydrates you and worsens any intoxication.
Again it may seem hard to run into anything within a large expanse of water, but it does happen. Except for no-wake zones, there are no technical speed limits for boating. This does not mean that you cannot go too fast. When you combine speed with no forward watch, the situation can result in an accident or serious injury.
Just like distracted driving, a distraction while boating is dangerous. Distractions can come in the form of passengers, depth finders, mapping and even cell phones. When you combine this with other issues, the consequences can be deadly.
Practicing boating safety is not particularly difficult. If you are unsure, take a boating course to avoid these situations.
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