Tag Archives: recreational boating accidents

Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be deadly. According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol or drug use was the primary factor in approximately seven percent of all recreational boating accidents in 2010, and drunk boating claimed 126 lives that year. To discourage drunk boating and minimize the injuries and deaths it causes, all 50 states and the federal government have passed laws to criminalize it. Massachusetts has one of the toughest boating under the influence (BUI) laws. Under Massachusetts law, a person is considered to be boating under the influence if his or her blood or breath alcohol concentration is .08 or above. Penalties for BUI include: Up to 30 months in prison and a $1,000 fine Revocation of your motor vehicle license and boat registration for up to one year Up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted…
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) warns using an electronic device while boating can be dangerous. The NTSB began voicing concerns about distracted boating following two maritime accidents in late 2009 involving Coast Guard officers who were using cell phones. The incidents prompted the NTSB to expand its warnings about operator distraction to include not only automobiles, planes and trains, but also maritime vessels. According to a U.S. Coast Guard report concerning recreational boating accidents in 2010, the top five causes of these accidents included: Operator inattention Improper lookout Operator inexperience Excessive speed Alcohol In 2010 alone, operator inattention accounted for 759 recreational boating accidents involving 49 deaths and 457 injuries. These statistics stress the importance of avoiding distractions when operating a boat. The Coast Guard describes operator inattention as: “Failure on the part of the operator to pay attention to the vessel, its occupants, or the environment in which…
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