US Coast Guard reveals top 5 reasons for boating accidents

The U.S. Coast Guard has released the 2023 calendar year statistics on recreational boating incidents, reporting a decrease in fatalities and incidents, and revealing the top reasons for accidents.

Fatalities fell by 11.3 per cent to 564 from 636 in 2022, while overall incidents decreased by 4.9 per cent from 4,040 to 3,844. Non-fatal injuries also declined by 4.3 per cent from 2,222 to 2,126.

The top five primary contributing factors in accidents were operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and machinery failure.

However, alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2023, accounting for 79 deaths, or 17 per cent of total fatalities.

The U.S. Coast Guard data also shows that in 2023, the fatality rate was 4.9 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels, a 9.3 per cent decrease from last year’s rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. (In 1971, when the Safe Boating Act was first passed, the rate was 20.6 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels.) Overall, property damage totaled $63 million.

“Boaters should remain vigilant on the water as most incidents occur when you might least expect them – in good visibility, calm waters and little wind,” says Capt. Amy Beach, Inspections and Compliance director. “The most frequent events involve collisions with other vessels, objects or groundings, which is why it is so important to keep a proper lookout, navigate at a safe speed, adhere to navigation rules and obey navigation aids.”

Deaths occurred predominantly on vessels operated by individuals who had not received boating safety instruction, accounting for 75 per cent of fatalities. Open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats were the vessel types most involved in reported incidents.

Drowning accounted for 75 per cent of deaths, with 87 per cent of those victims not wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard reminds boaters to wear serviceable, properly sized and correctly fastened life jackets.

“The most frequent event in fatal incidents involved events where people ended up in the water. A fall overboard, capsizing and cases where a person voluntarily departed a vessel accounted for over half of fatal incidents,” says Beach.

In 2023, there was a slightly higher percentage of deaths attributed to canoes and kayaks compared to other vessel types. The Coast Guard encourages boaters to check the weather and water conditions prior to getting underway.