As boating season arrives, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources conservation police are reminding people to wear life jackets when they are on the water and to operate boats sober. This week marks National Safe Boating Week and the theme for this week is “Wear it!”
Illinois Conservation Police Lieutenant Curt Lewis is the state’s boatin law administrator, and encourages everyone to “Wear it” as in wearing a life jacket for those who are on anything on the water, whether it is a motorboat, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or everything in between.
In 2021 there were 93 reportable boating accidents on Illinois water. These accidents resulted in 28 injuries and 16 fatalities. In 2020, there were 81 boating accidents with 21 fatalities and 36 injuries. In 2019 there were 72 accidents with 14 fatalities and 42 injuries.
Boating accident reports indicate that most accidents occur between noon and 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays between June and August. Conditions are usually clear with good visibility, light winds, and calm water. The average of those who do get into accidents are operators between 20 and 40 years of age who have more than 100 hours of boating experience, but have little or no classroom boating safety instruction.
Lewis says safety is paramount and you should know where your switches, lifejackets, and safety measures are on the boat.
Officers are also concerned about boating operators who are not sober. Lieutenant Lewis says operating a boat under the influence is riskier than operating a motor vehicle. There are no lane markers, seatbelts, and little protection for boaters who are in accidents. In 2021 Illinois
Conservation Police officers arrested 65 boaters for operating under the influence, a 36% decrease from 2020. Four of the 16 boating related fatalities in Illinois in 2021 involved alcohol or drug impairment. The other 12 who passed away were not wearing life jackets or vests. Lewis says that being tired and drinking alcohol can be a deadly combination.
Illinois law requires every person aboard have access to a life jacket or vest. Effective June 1st, 2022 no person may operate a watercraft unless everyone under the age of 13 is wearing a life jacket or vest and everyone must wear them on a personal watercraft or jet ski.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers free boating safety courses that provide a review of boating laws and regulations as well as instruction on the safe and attentive operation of watercraft. The IDNR encourages everyone to take a safety class. If you are born on or after January 1st, 1998, you must pass a course and have a valid Boating Safety Certificate in order to operate a motorboat.
For more information visit www.safeboatingcampaign.com.
