ST. PETERSBURG, Fl. — The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics Wednesday, revealing 70 boating fatalities in Florida that year.
The number of boating fatalities increased to 70 in 2014 from 58 in 2013. The number of registered Florida boaters has decreased over the past year.
“In Florida, and especially in the Tampa Bay area, we have great conditions for boating year round,” said Cdr. Sean Ryan, the deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “We want people to enjoy these conditions, but boaters need to remember there are easy steps to take to stay safe on the water, starting with wearing a life jacket and boating sober."
Nationally, alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Also, where the cause of death was known, 78 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket.
To view the 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics, please visit http://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boat...
To view the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters press release on the report please visit http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2504554/
For more information on boating responsibly, please visit www.uscgboating.org.