Boat Safe This Summer!

So, I just read about a great educational campaign by the State of Arizona about Boating Operating Under the Influence, Arizona Boating. The State of Arizona set up a Boating Education Online website as well as produced the two informational commercials shown above. Whats also cool is the fact that Arizona is the first state to promote online in this manner. They really want you to be safe on their waterways.


Here's a press release from the State of Arizona:

Every Year in Arizona Alcohol is directly related to fatal boating accidents. 50% of all fatal boating accidents in Arizona were alcohol related in 2007 and 1/3 of all fatal boating accidents nationwide are alcohol related.

In 2007 Arizona watercraft law enforcement agencies arrested over 350 people who were operating watercraft under the influence (OUI) of alcohol.

Operating a boat while impaired is just as dangerous and just as illegal as drinking while driving a car. The legal limit for blood alcohol is .08 in both cases. The penalties are similar, too; like driving under the influence, operating a boat under the influence is a Class One misdemeanor. A sober operator should be designated.

However, unlike driving a car, boating safety education is not required to operate a boat in the state of Arizona. Educated boaters are 70 percent less likely to be involved in a boating accident. Classes are offered in Arizona statewide, or can be taken online at www.azgfd.gov/boating. In addition to learning about the effects of alcohol, a boating safety education course covers other need to know boating topics such as carbon monoxide poisoning, life jacket wear, required safety equipment, rules of navigation, and other boating safety laws and responsibilities.