The U.S. Coast Guard recently released its 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics, revealing the second-lowest number of yearly boating fatalities on record, shortly behind 2013, totaling 610 deaths.
The publication states alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 21 percent of reported deaths. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol use ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in boating accidents last year.
Where the cause of death was known, 78 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Where boating instruction was known, 77 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had not received boating safety instructions.
To view the full report, visit uscgboating.org/library.
