The number of boating deaths, injuries and property damage increased for the second consecutive year and when compared to 2005 are as follows: 710 deaths vs. 697; 3,474 injuries vs. 3,451; and $43,670,424 in property damage vs. $38,721,088. Overall, two-thirds of all fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those who drowned, ninety (90) percent of the victims were not wearing their life jacket. Eight out of every ten boaters who drowned were using boats less than 20 feet in length. Consistent with previous years, 70% of reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction. Operator inattention, carelessness/reckless operation, excessive speed, and no proper lookout are the primary contributing factors in all reported accidents. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; accounting for nearly twenty (20) percent of all reported fatalities. Twenty-nine (29) children age 12 and under lost their lives while boating in 2006; compared to 21 children in 2005 and 14 children in 2004. Nearly twice as many children drowned in 2006 (15) compared to 2005 (8). The most common types of boats involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (45%), personal watercraft (PWC) (24%) and cabin motorboats (14%). A significant increase was observed in the number of reported fatalities associated with the use of canoes/kayaks (99) when compared to 2005 (78). The 12,746,126 boats registered by the States and territories in 2006 continued along a downward trend and represents a two percent decrease when compared to the 12,942,414 boats registered in 2005.


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