Boating Safety Tips

 Posted on August 26, 2013 in Personal Injury

With Labor Day weekend coming up, many people are preparing to spend the holiday out on the water. While spending a day out on your boat is always a good time, it's important to review boating safety tips before you get started. One of the most basic pieces of boating safety advice is to pay attention to the weather. Don't forget to check online or on the news for your local weather conditions. If you are out on the water and notice dark, ominous clouds and rough winds, it may be best for you to call it a day and head back home. When you're out on the water, be sure not to forget to use your common sense. This can include, but is not limited to, travelling at a safe speed, being alert, and steering clear of larger vessels that may have a hard time stopping or turning. It may also be helpful to avoid large crowds of boats. Pay attention to any buoys and navigational aids; they only exist to keep you safe. A very important boating rule is to avoid alcohol while operating your vessel. Just like with driving a car, driving a boat under the influence of alcohol can lead to serious accidents. Some studies have shown that the effects of alcohol are multiplied dramatically in the presence of sun and wind. Play it safe by saving the alcoholic drinks for later. While operating a boat may not seem like it, it is just as dangerous, and sometimes more, as driving a car. Always be sure to practice safe boating habits when going out on the water. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a boating accident due to someone not practicing proper boating safety, don't hesitate to contact an Illinois personal injury attorney to assist you.