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Maine Should Lead, Not Lag, on Boater Safety Education

August 29, 2007 - The recent tragic deaths of two nighttime boaters on Long Lake, whose boat was broken in two by a powerful 32 foot ocean racer, has raised the issue once again: are we doing what we can and should do to keep Maine's boaters safe?

"Boating safety is analogous to hunter safety," says a 2007 report issued by a state group studying the possibility of a Maine mandatory boater education course. "Until mandatory hunter safety was implemented Maine experienced many hunting related shootings including numerous fatalities. Once mandatory hunter education and mandatory hunter orange clothing were required, hunting related shootings decrease significantly."

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators has determined that states which have introduced mandatory boater education experience the greatest percentage reduction in accidents, injuries and fatalities. According to Maine Marine Patrol Major John Fetterman, the use of kayaks is exploding on both inland coastal waters and bigger, more powerful boats are crowding our state's lakes. With that increased use comes increased risk.

That's why a state law passed last year required a study of the potential effects of a mandatory boater safety education course. Study participants included a broad range of interests, from the Sportsmen's Alliance of Maine to the Marine Manufacturers Association, state lawmakers and regulators from the Departments of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as well as Marine Resources, whose wardens monitor boater safety in the state's coastal waters, tidal inland reaches, lakes and ponds.

According to the report, "the working group quickly reached consensus that mandatory boater education is needed for all Maine boaters. The group never altered its position during the discussions." Furthermore, the report states that "it is to be expected that Maine will experience strong pressure from federal entities if mandatory boater education is not implemented in Maine" -- that's because both the US Coast Guard in the National Transportation Safety Board has cited mandatory boater education as top priorities for all states.

Many of us in Maine are recreational boaters. Whether we're out on the lake quietly paddling a canoe, tooling around in a bass boat, roaring across a cove in a jet ski or just rowing from the mooring into the dock, we can't fail to note the increase in recreational use of our waters. With that increase comes greater danger, from yahoos who perversely delight in throwing a 2 foot high wake against paddlers, from drunk fisherman in crazily-veering glitter boats, from clueless paddlers who cut in front of speeding motorboats.

The introduction of a mandatory boating safety course for those of us who spend time in the water will be resisted by some Mainers -- and the political force of their resistance must have been the reason that lawmakers completely ignored the recommendations of the study committee to develop legislation requiring such a course. Their report gathers dust.

That should not be the fate of such a patently useful and commonsense proposal. A mandatory boating safety requirement in Maine could lower insurance costs by at least 10%, according to the Boat Owners Association of the United States; could diminish the number of accidents and fatalities and could, incidentally, make being out on the water on an August Saturday a much more pleasurable experience.

Our lawmakers need courage to tackle this issue, but that's why we elected them: to lead. With respect to boating safety education, Maine is following, not leading. That's not living up to our state motto -- Dirigo -- nor is it the proper place for a state whose history was substantially built on its connection to the water.

This opinion piece first appeared in the Kennebec Journal, August 24, 2007.

Lakes:
Regions: Sebago, Belgrade, Rangeley, Moosehead, Sanford, Bangor, Katahdin, Embden, Houlton, Lincoln, Jackman, Presque Isle, Allagash, Calais, Mid Coast, Downeast


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