Posted: Fri, 28 May 2010 10:06 AM - 10,281 Readers

By: Jim Darnell

Memorial Day weekend us almost upon us. It’s one of the biggest water sports days of the year. It can be a deadly holiday.

Fortunately, deaths from boating accidents on Texas public water decreased last year compared with the year before and Texas game wardens, boater education proponents and others hope to keep the numbers trending downward. The decrease in 2009 came after an unprecedented spike in boating accident deaths in 2008, the highest in more than ten years.

“We don’t know for sure what caused the decrease in boating deaths, but we do think two contributing factors are saturation law enforcement and educational outreach,” said the state marine safety chief, Jeff Parrish.

Statistics compiled by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department show that 207 boating accidents on Texas public waters in 2009 led to 139 injuries and 38 deaths, compared with 272 accidents, 175 injuries and 62 deaths in 2008. Of the fatalities last year, 25 of the deaths occurred in open motorboats. Only one death was attributed to a personal watercraft.

“While we hate that anyone died in a boating accident last year, we are very encouraged to see that the number of deaths fell so dramatically,” said Parrish. “The trick this year is to be to keep these numbers down and hopefully see them decrease even more.”

Last year, in the course of 192,882 boating compliance checks, game wardens issued 9,705 citations and 9,928 warnings. The most common violation was not having sufficient number of life vest available. Wardens issued 2,488 citations for that offense. Additionally, they arrested 220 persons for boating while intoxicated.

Staying safe while boating is simple as one, two, three,” Parrish said. “First wear a personal flotation device. The new inflatable jackets are lightweight and comfortable, and they save lives. Second, don’t drink and boat. Third, take a boater education course.”  

These three rules seem simple. But people continue to ignore them.

A few days ago a Texas state trooper drowned on Lake Travis. The trooper went out about 5 PM in a small flat-bottomed Jon boat to check his trotlines. The weather changed abruptly shortly after he left. A major thunder storm struck the lake and the lake went from fairly calm to 3 to 4 foot swells in less than 5 minutes. Hours later the boat was found with some catfish in the boat and two life preservers. The trooper’s body was found two days later. He was not wearing a life preserver.

We will spend Memorial Day on the Pedernales arm of Lake Travis at our daughter’s place. Last year the Pedernales River was dry in front of their house near the S.H. 71 Bridge. This year it’s full of water. It will also be full of boats. And some of those boats will contain ice chests of beer. Slick slogans like “drink responsibly” and “designated driver” don’t usually translate into action A fast powerboat piloted by a drunk driver is a deadly missile. Hopefully, our Texas game wardens will be out in full force with their saturation law enforcement plan.

Enjoy the holiday and the water. Be safe.

*  Story Contributed by: Jim Darnell