Includes information on injuries sustained as a result of the accident and what kind of treatment the victim received. Includes information on people who died as a result of the accident, such as their age, blood alcohol content, whether they were wearing a personal floatation device, whether they could swim and how they died. See record layouts for all tables. There are very few states that require any kind of boat license. Anyone over 21 can rent a boat, canoe or personal watercraft without knowing how to drive one.
Laws overseeing alcohol and boats are often weak.
In 1998, there were more than 8,000 boating accidents, many involving personal watercraft. The Recreational Boat Accident database allows reporters to find information about the vessels, people and conditions involved in the accident. Because of the simplicity of this database, it is a good one for beginning CAR reporters to use. Fla. In the News-Journal story, she reported that most fatal accidents were a result of drowning, and few of the victims were wearing life jackets. It's a long-term trend reflected in most waterways in the nation, but not in state laws governing safety on the water.