Coast Guard Releases 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics Report

A decrease in the number of boating injuries reported nationally was offset by a higher number of accidents overall.

The US Coast Guard released its 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics report this week.

For the 2015 season the number of boating-related injuries decreased by 2.4 percent from 2,678 to 2,613 nationally. Deaths increased by 2.6 percent from 610 in the 2014 season to 626 last year, while the total number of accidents also increased by 2.3 percent, from 4,064 to 4,158.

Property damage resulting from boating accidents totaled approximately $42 million.

Once again, alcohol was shown to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents and was listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of deaths.

Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure and excessive speed ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

“We thank our boating safety partners for their efforts,” said Capt. Verne Gifford, direction of Inspections and Compliance at US Coast Guard Headquarters. “They’ve done a tremendous amount of work educating the boating public, which has helped reduce injuries. However, boating under the influence and failure to wear life jackets remain among the leading factors contributing to most boating fatalities. Together, we must continue to work to reduce the numbers of accidents, injuries and deaths.”

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water: wear a life jacket, take a boating safety course, attach your engine cut-off switch, get a free vessel safety check and avoid alcohol or other impairing substance consumption.

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