2000 BOATING ACCIDENT STATISTICAL REPORT
INTRODUCTION
The 2000 Boating Accident Statistical Report is compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Division of Law Enforcement, Boating Safety Section, from "reportable boating accident" reports submitted by various investigating agencies. The reporting period for this report was from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000. All figures for the enclosed charts and graphs were obtained directly from boating accident investigative reports submitted by investigating officers.
The criteria for a "reportable boating accident" is one that involves a minimum of $500 in damage, death, missing person or an injury which requires treatment more than basic first aid (see definition section). Florida law requires the vessel operator involved in an accident to immediately report the incident to law enforcement. The investigating officer is required to file an accident report with the Boating Safety Section upon completing a boating accident investigation.
At the end of each calendar year, this data is compiled and assembled into this report. This same accident information is reported to the United States Coast Guard's (USCG) Office of Boating Safety in Washington, D.C. to be included in the National Boating Accident Database consisting of data from all states, commonwealths, and territories.
In 2000, we saw a decrease in the number of total fatalities with the lowest fatality rate in a decade and the lowest recorded number of boating accidents since 1994. There was a 20% reduction in alcohol-related fatalities compared to the 1999 statistics.
The charts labeled "Causes Assessed by Reviewing Authority" reflect the primary cause of the accident as determined by the Boating Safety Section pursuant to criteria approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the USCG.
Personal watercraft (PWC) represent less than 13% of registered vessels, but accounted for 32% of all accidents and 45.7 % of all injuries. If you are involved in an accident, while riding a PWC you have an 80.1 % chance of suffering an injury requiring more than first aid. Total PWC accidents are at a seven-year low this year.
All Vessel By County Report [pdf 19kb]
Any questions concerning this report should be directed to:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Law Enforcement
Boating Safety Section
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Telephone: (850) 488-5600
Internet: http://myfwc.com