According to the office of boating safety, 2013 had nine boating related fatalities, the lowest number recorded since 1970.
Boating Safety Administrator Jeff Johnson gave us a timeline.
Johnson: “Comparing the years 1970 through 1999 the year before Alaska’s boating safety law was passed in 2000, we were averaging approximately 30 fatalities a year, and since that bill was passed and the office of boating safety was established and the state became involved in injury prevention efforts with recreational boating those fatalities have been cut down to 16 average per year.”
Johnson said that the department may not necessarily be able to take credit for the reduction.
Johnson: “Collectively our partners and us have maybe made a dent, maybe we’re moving the needle on boating behavioral change and that’s what we’re looking for, we’re looking at better behaviors on water and that starts with public awareness and education.”
We also asked him if he would be participating in tomorrow’s Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day.
Johnson: “Sure will be even if I ride my motorcycle to work I’m going to be wearing my life jacket.”
The coast guard tallies boat related deaths differently but also saw only 10 deaths in 2013 versus 22 in 2012.