Public input sought on boating safety regulations - Charleston Post Courier
As the population of South Carolina grows, so also grows the number of people who are trying to enjoy our waterways. In 2014, there were approximately 485,000 registered boats. South Carolina consistently ranks in the top 10 of all states for registered boats. What makes this troublesome is that there are a lot of people operating boats with little, if any training. Are you required to carry flares in your boat. Boaters under the age of 16 must complete a DNR-approved boating course in order to operate a boat or personal watercraft with a 15-horsepower or greater motor unless accompanied by an adult age 18 or older. A look at some of the 2014 boating safety statistics compiled by DNR is eye-opening. Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties have 62,644 registered boats and 3,602 personal watercraft. There were 127 boating accidents involving 187 boats reported statewide in 2014, resulting in 91 injuries and 15 fatalities. Sixty-seven of those accidents occurred on a Saturday (40) or Sunday (27). Eighty-five occurred between noon and 8 p. m. In 78 percent of the accidents, the operator was 20 years of age or older. The most injuries occurred because of a collision with a fixed object (24), with 12 injuries from being struck by a boat and eight injuries as a result of grounding. Source: www.postandcourier.com
