Although spring typically isn’t known as a particularly busy time of the year for boating, there are still many boating enthusiasts who love the crisp air and the unique joy of boating during spring time. Boating during spring is exhilarating. It is also the ideal time to brush up on your boating skills, and make sure that your boat is in the right shape and tuned up not just for spring, but also for the more hectic summer boating season ahead. This way you, and others around you, will be sure to be safe whether you’re boating on Lake Lanier, the Chattahoochee River, or any other body of water in the North Georgia area.
Across the country, the Coast Guard estimates that as many as 80 recent of all boating accidents, caused by user error, involved boaters who had never undergone a boating education program. Learning how to operate and handle your boat is a must whether you plan on boating regularly or just a few times a year. Just as you would never dream of driving your car on the highway without knowing the basics of driving, learning the essentials of boating technique is also necessary to ensure not only your safety but also those around you on the water. However, a surprisingly large number of boaters every year see no problem in taking to the lakes and rivers across Georgia in boats without even a single hour of training or education. Operating a boat can be as, or even more, challenging than driving a motor vehicle. In fact, an untrained boater may be at an even higher risk of causing an accident than a motorist because of the special challenges posed by water currents, weather and other factors that are beyond the control of the boater. Not only can boating accidents cause severe injuries, they can also be fatal when the victim’s injuries disable them to the point where they cannot swim in the water and drown as a result.
To help reduce the number of boating accidents, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators conducts a special campaign every year to encourage boaters to focus on safety during the spring months. This year, the special program will be kicked off during the week from March 17 to March 23.
The campaign is called “Spring Aboard – Take a Boating Education Course” and encourages boaters to take a special boater education program to provide them with basic skills, or to enhance their existing skills. The campaign will connect boaters with course providers who provide specific safety programs. The campaign will also offer special discounts and incentives to boaters to participate in these education and training programs.
Additionally, the courses approved by the “Spring Aboard” campaign focus on those courses that meet national boating safety knowledge requirements. In other words, whether you want to take a basic boater education course before your first time in the water, or want to improve your skills, these courses will provide you with updated and essential knowledge appropriate for the skill level that is relevant for you.
There are a number of options for boating education programs if you want to gain basic boating operation and safety knowledge. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary offers basic boating classes, while Safe Boating America offers more advanced programs too. Not only can the boating courses be a fun way to get outside during the crisp spring days, but it is also a perfect opportunity to ensure that you are prepared with the skills you need so you can avoid being in a potentially dangerous boating accident.
Boating accidents can cause serious injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, discuss filing a claim for damages with an attorney at our firm. Compensation may include, but is not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and other financial losses. The Atlanta boating accident lawyers at the Katz Personal Injury Lawyers have several decades of combined experience representing injured boaters recover compensation for their losses.