DNR reminds Georgians to stay Safe this Boating Season

As temperatures rise with the official beginning of summer and more Georgians take to the state’s waterways to cool off, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is highlighting the importance of boating safety.  Each year, an average of 650 people die in boating-related accidents in the United States. More than 75% of these fatalities are caused by drowning, and most accidents are triggered by boater error or poor judgment, rather than mechanical or environmental factors. In Georgia alone, there were 14 boating-related fatalities, 67 injuries, and 114 incidents in 2021.  The DNR reminds boaters to help keep themselves and others safe, follow a few simple rules while enjoying the Peach State’s waters.  It starts with wearing a life jacket. Children under the age of 13 are required to wear a life jacket at all times on the water unless the child is within a fully enclosed cabin. While people 13 and older are not required to wear their life jackets, the practice is strongly encouraged.  Boaters, like automobile drivers, also have personal responsibilities while navigating waterways. Operating a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol is just as illegal as drunk driving.  Other rules for boat operation include, when meeting another vessel, boat operators should pass on the right side unless the boats are far enough apart that they are not meeting head-on or close to head-on; in a crossing situation, the boat on the right should hold its course and the boat on the left should slow down and cross behind the other boat; and powerboats always should yield to sailboats.