Idaho Floats Campaign To Cut Boater Deaths Public Service Ads, New Law Aim To Reduce Rate Of Drownings

Last year, 14 people died in recreational boating accidents in Idaho.

That figure is four times the national per capita average.

With an estimated 400,000 people taking to Idaho’s lakes and rivers this summer, the state Parks and Recreation Department is anxious to avoid a repeat of last year’s deaths.

Gov. Phil Batt will sign a proclamation declaring May 18-24 as “Safe Boating Week,” but that doesn’t mean boaters should be lax this weekend.

With the warmer weather, local officials expect a good boater turnout on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The theme of Boater Safety Week and the 1996 safe boating campaign is “Life Jackets. They float. You don’t.”

The parks department will kick off the season with a series of television public service announcements addressing the biggest safety issues: drunken boating, failure to wear a life jacket and reckless operation of personal watercraft.

Drinking while operating a boat increases the likelihood of having an accident by 10 times, according to the Parks and Recreation Department. Drinking also makes swimming more difficult and driving home after boating more dangerous.

Some accidents may be prevented this year because of a personal watercraft law that was passed last legislative session.

“The new law is aimed at curbing the rising number of accidents and user conflicts involving this popular size of boat,” said Mark Brandt, Boating Law Administrator with the Idaho parks department.

California, Minnesota and Wisconsin have similar laws, he said.

The new law makes it illegal to operate a boat or personal watercraft recklessly within 100 feet of another vessel. It’s also illegal to operate a vessel faster than 5 miles per hour, or fast enough to create a wake, within 100 feet of a dock, swimmer or other person in the water, such as a diver or angler.

The law also requires renters of personal watercraft to provide life jackets free of charge and education on Idaho laws and safe handling procedures. Vendors are required to have customers sign a written acknowledgment that they’ve read and understood the instructions.

The law also empowers local governments to pass ordinances that would create zones regulating or banning the use of personal watercraft.

The law does not go into effect until July 1.

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has formed a special task force to address how to resolve user conflicts without turning to more legislation. The group will meet periodically throughout the year.

“We need to manage waterways for multiple use just like we do for trails and other forms of recreation,” Brandt said.

, DataTimes MEMO: IDAHO HEADLINE: State floats campaign to cut boater deaths

This sidebar appeared with the story: GET SMART For more boater information and safety tips, call the Idaho parks department boating program at (208) 334-4180, Ext. 224 or 227.