Boating safety 

Statistics show majority of boaters do not prepare for going overboard  

Collisions are the most common boating accident, but capsizing and falling overboard claim more lives.

In fact, according to the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard, in 2004, the most reported type of boating accident was a collision with another vessel. However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents and accounted for more than half - 57 percent - of all boating fatalities.

UL, a global safety organization, says most boaters are not prepared to deal with boating accidents when they occur, and even experienced swimmers may panic and find themselves in danger.

"Life jackets don't work unless you wear them," said John Drengenberg, UL's director of Consumer Affairs. "No one plans to fall overboard, but life jackets need to be available, dry and worn. Once you're in the water, life jackets are almost impossible to find and put on quickly."

Related Materials

• Graph: Boating accidents at a glance 
• Graph: Overall mean PFD wear rates including PWCs, 1998-2003
• Graph: Classification of state PFD laws for children
• Graph: Fatalities and lifejacket wear