TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sheriff's Office Is Right To Continue Boating Safety Awareness Program

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 25, 2008

Plans by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office to continue reaching out to boaters about the do's and don'ts of an enjoyable but potentially dangerous recreational activity couldn't have come at a more appropriate time.

Memorial Day, often viewed as the beginning of summer and vacation season, is Monday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission grimly reported a couple of weeks ago that the Sunshine State once again led the nation in boating-related deaths - 77 last year. One death, four injuries and six accidents occurred in Pasco.

But the number of deaths locally, though very small compared with Miami-Dade County's 13 in 2007, has already doubled this year. In late March two construction workers died on Moon Lake after a kayak they were using overturned while they were taking a break.

This type of accident, which happened quickly, illustrates why the sheriff's office is right to continue its 3-year-old education program even though a fast-growing population is requiring more services on land.

To prevent further tragedy, the sheriff's office received approval from the county commission recently to seek a state grant to continue its boating safety awareness program throughout the county. It's a service critical to safety.

Pasco is very popular among boaters and other water lovers. More than 26,000 recreational vessels are registered here, ranking Pasco 11th out of Florida's 67 counties last year, according to the recent state report.

The county also was home to 4,175 personal watercraft, 10th most in the state.

As the county continues to grow, so, too, will the number of registered boaters. A case also could be made to boost the sheriff's two-man marine unit, especially considering one of the unit's duties is to patrol 180 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico.

There are plenty of places to have fun on boats and watercraft. The Gulf is an obvious destination, but the county has numerous lakes and rivers that also are ideal for cruising and fishing.

These waters are a main reason why Pasco is such a good place to live. But with these attractive features comes the potential for danger, which sheriff's deputies are working hard to minimize through boating classes, educational pamphlets, public service announcements and other means.

Deputies have the admirable goal of distributing 10,000 safety brochures at boat ramps, special events and at other functions and places. Advertisements will also be played on movie theater screens, which is an ideal way to grab the attention of young people.

Residents, whether operating boats and watercraft or just along for the ride, would be wise to take advantage of the program, pay strict attention and heed deputies' advice. As the recent state report shows, many crashes and fatalities could have been avoided.

For instance, of the 68 crashes that resulted in 77 deaths, 26 of the mishaps involved simple "falls overboard," far more than any other type, and drowning was the biggest cause of death.

Of these fatal accidents, just as many - 17 - occurred in ponds and lakes as in the Gulf and ocean, showing tragedy can happen in smaller bodies of water, something Pasco residents should be especially careful about.

More than a quarter of the deadly accidents occurred in areas where speed is restricted. And alcohol use was the highest cause of fatal crashes.

Most telling is that of the 79 operators who were involved in fatal accidents, 67 had no formal boating education. That's 85 percent - a strong reminder why boating education should be a must for all ages. And sheriff's deputies are happy to provide it.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT