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National Safe Boating Week: FWC offers tips to stay safe on the water

ORLANDO, Fla. — This week is National Safe Boating Week, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservative Commission wants to remind people to boat safely this summer.

Florida leads the nation with over 1 million registered vessels in the state.

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FWC wants to encourage boaters to focus on effective ways to make boating safer.

“National Safe Boating Week is May 21-27 and, with many people enjoying Florida’s year-round boating season, we encourage boaters to boat safely,” said Maj. Rob Beaton, FWC’s Boating and Waterways section leader. “Reminding people to be safe and slow down is our top priority. Nothing can ruin an enjoyable and memorable experience on the water faster than a boating accident.”

According to FWC boating accident statistics, over half of all reportable boating accidents in 2021 were due to collisions, with 45% of those collisions attributed to operator inattention or improper lookout.

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To make boating safer, FWC offered a few tips:

· Wear a life jacket.

· Maintain 360-degree awareness.

· Know the dangers and penalties for operating a vessel while impaired.

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For more safety tips, you can visit MyFWC.com/Boating.

“All too often, preventable tragedies happen because individuals choose to operate a boat while distracted or impaired,” said Beaton. “FWC law enforcement officers will be doing their part to ensure the safety of Florida’s recreational boaters.”

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