US Coast Guard Reports A Decline In Boating Deaths

The United States Coast Guard has just released its 2019 Recreational Boating Statistics report that reveals a decline in American boating deaths for the third straight year.

Total boating deaths reflect a 3.2% decrease, from 2018 to 2019 or a fatality rate of 5.2 per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. This number tied the second lowest rate in the program’s history. Where the cause of death was known, 79 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 86 percent were not wearing a life jacket.

From 2018 to 2019, the total number of accidents increased 0.6 percent (4,145 to 4,168), and the number of non-fatal injured victims increased 1.9 percent (2,511 to 2,559).

Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2019, accounting for over 100 deaths, or 23 percent of total fatalities. Property damage totaled approximately $55 million.

Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol use ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

The 61st annual report, “2019 Recreational Boating Statistics,” contains statistics on recreational boating accidents and state vessel registration. The publication shares coordinated efforts of the Coast Guard and all states, five territories and the District of Columbia that have federally-approved boat numbering and casualty reporting systems.