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RALEIGH, N.C. (May 20) — Boaters taking to the waters this Memorial Day should be courteous and safe — which can amount to the same thing, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Although many factors contribute to boating accidents, from operator inexperience to alcohol, the bulk of North Carolina’s waterway mishaps can be summed up as a lack of courtesy. Inattention, recklessness, excessive speed and wakes are just a few of the discourteously dangerous behaviors that keep the Wildlife Commission’s enforcement officers busy investigating almost 200 boating accidents each year. “We’re asking boaters to keep a sharp lookout ,” said Capt. Mike Bogdanowicz, safety coordinator for the Wildlife Commission. “Respect and recognize other users of our waters.” Memorial Day weekend marks the start of boating season and, with Independence Day, is a peak of boating activity. The warm-weather holidays usually produce crowds on the water — and off it. “There are times when boat ramps get busy, and there may be lines of people waiting to put in and take out their boats,” Bogdanowicz said. “In most cases, if people would just apply the Golden Rule, then the number of conflicts would certainly be kept to a minimum.” Boaters can reduce waits and irritations at boating access areas by completing preparations before launch. Look carefully before backing down the ramp, as a trailer may hide children or others standing at the bottom. Once the vessel is in the water, park only in designated spaces to avoid blocking others. Boaters should also realize that boat ramp parking lots can fill quickly on busy days, and that alternative parking arrangements may be necessary. Boaters can help each other and themselves by joining friends or family beforehand and parking only one vehicle in the boating access lot. That start of boating season is also a good time to remind boaters of the recent federal regulation requiring anyone under age 13 to wear a personal flotation device. Be warned: Wildlife enforcement officers take this regulation very seriously. State law also forbids anyone under age 12 from operating a personal watercraft. Completion of a boater safety class is required for personal watercraft operators ages 12-16. For a schedule of upcoming classes around the state, visit the Boating Safety page. Boating in North Carolina is actually safer than ever, despite a nearly twofold increase in registered boats in the last 20 years — from 191,000 in 1982 to 357,000 in 2002. Over that time, the number of annual boating fatalities dropped from 32 to 21. But fewer fatalities are still too many. “We want folks to enjoy our waters, but also be safe,” Bogdanowicz said. |
