Boat Accidents

Many residents enjoy the waterways for recreation. It’s good to remember that we have a responsibility to:

1. Learn how to operate vessels properly, and

2. Follow the regulations of boat operation and safe waterway travel

Waterways are to be shared

For everybody’s safety and enjoyment, we all need to observe the speed limits and respect each other’s right to share the water. There are also passenger limits, and if they’re disregarded, the overloaded boat can become an unsafe place to be.

Waterway navigation rules are established to protect boaters and keep the waterways accessible to all, just as road rules are in place to keep our roads and highways safe.

And just as automobiles must be checked for emissions, and are expected to have properly operating brakes in order to avoid auto accidents, boat and engine equipment standards are designed to make sure only safe vessels are in operation.

Negligence

Sometimes boat owners or renters drive recklessly and ignore the rights of other boaters. If a boat owner fails to maintain boating equipment, the boat can become a moving hazard.

Negligence causes many accidents, and can be compounded by other undesirable circumstances, such as:

• Operating a boat while intoxicated

• Lack of boat training or experience