Post by ridge on Jul 4, 2024 0:02:28 GMT -5
A conservation officer stands on a boat, looking toward another law enforcement vessel where two people wearing orange lifejackets stand ready.
Conservation officers will have an increased presence on Michigan waterways July 4-6 as part of Operation Dry Water, a national law enforcement campaign to promote sober boating.
There's good reason for the effort. According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard report, alcohol is among the top 10 primary factors in recreational boater deaths.
Alcohol impairs a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time, and can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion – elements common to the boating environment – intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs and some medications.
The top factors in fatal boating accidents (when the cause is known) remain the same from previous years:
Operator inattention.
Improper lookout.
Operator inexperience.
Excessive speed.
Machine failure.
Data shows that while boating-related fatalities have decreased, the proportion of drowning victims not wearing a life jacket increased, from 85% in 2022 to 87% in 2023.
It's important to wear a life jacket and ride with a sober operator who has successfully completed an accredited boater safety course.
For more information, including more boater safety resources, visit Michigan.gov/Boating.
Questions? Contact Cpl. Jill Miller at MillerJ86@Michigan.gov.