Most boaters start the new boating season safely

by Roads and Maritime Services on 15 Oct 2014 The results are in from the first boating campaign of the new season with a reminder for boaters to keep an eye on their speed and ensure they are aware of NSW lifejacket laws.

Roads and Maritime Services Maritime Director Angus Mitchell said information collated by 48 of Roads and Maritime Services Boating Safety Officers who stopped more than 2400 vessels as part of Operation Be Prepared showed an 88 per cent compliance rate with boating safety requirements.

'The operation aimed to ensure boaters were properly prepared for the new boating season,' Mr Mitchell said.

'During Operation Be Prepared, 174 fines and 112 formal warnings were issued to boaters.

'While there is still room for improvement, this shows most people who go boating are doing the right thing and ensuring they check the conditions and weather before and during their journey , have carried out safety checks on their boat before launch and are carrying all required safety equipment on board.'

Mr Mitchell said the majority of fines were for not wearing lifejackets when required to do so. There were 69 penalty notices issued across NSW with the majority issued in northern waters.

'This is despite more people than ever wearing lifejackets out on NSW waters, including 18 per cent of boaters who during Operation Be Prepared were found to be wearing lifejackets voluntarily, when they were not required to by law,' he said.

'Lifejackets are more comfortable than they have ever been. We strongly encourage people to put on one every time they go boating.

'Lifejackets in boats are like seatbelts in cars, they really can make a difference in the event of capsize or other mishaps when you are on the water.'

Mr Mitchell said speeding led to 24 fines being issued during Operation Be Prepared, with the majority of these going to skippers boating in Sydney waters.

'It’s important skippers remember they must travel at a safe speed at all times, regardless of whether there are signs indicating speed limits in an area,' he said.

'A safe speed cannot be expressed as a maximum or minimum number of knots because it varies with circumstances and conditions. The skipper must continually assess the safety of the vessel’s speed.

'A safe speed is one at which the vessel can be stopped in time to avoid any danger which arises suddenly.'

Mr Mitchell said while fatalities had continued to drop in the past two decades, with a third less boating fatalities recorded in the year to 30 June compared with the previous year, any death was a tragedy.

'We all know how much fun boating can be but we need to do everything we can to ensure it is also as safe as possible,' he said.

Operation Be Prepared was carried out from Saturday 27 September to Monday 6 October.

For more information on boating safety, click here.