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Figure 4-3 Causes of Recreational Boating Accidents-1999

Figure 4-3
Causes of Recreational Boating Accidents-1999

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Figure 4-3 Causes of Recreational Boating Accidents-1999. If you are a user with disability and cannot view this image, use the table version. If you need further assistance, call 800-853-1351.

NOTES: Most boating accidents involved human factors. Human factors include accidents during loading of passengers or gear and operation of the vessel. Operator inattention and operator inexperience were the top 2 causes of accidents due to the operation of the vessel. Alcohol is a major factor in boating accidents.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Boating Safety, Boating Statistics – 2000, available at http://www.uscgboating.org/saf/pdf/boating_statistics_2000.pdf.

  • Nearly 70 percent of all reported accidents involve factors that are under the control of the boat operator.
  • Primary causes of accidents are operator inattention, careless or reckless operation, operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed, and no proper lookout.
  • Eighty-four percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not completed a boating safety education course.