BUI is just as bad as DUI

 Posted on July 24, 2013 in Personal Injury

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, boating under the influence (BUI) is just as deadly as driving on the road after drinking. A boat operator can actually become impaired more quickly. Alcohol is involved in a third of all recreational boating deaths. Higher temperatures make summer the perfect time for some boating fun. However, it is important to know that using alcohol while operating a boat is illegal. This does not only apply to motorized boats but all boats including canoes and rowboats. It is also more dangerous for boaters because recreational boaters are much less experienced than the average driver on the road. The average boater drives approximately 110 hours on the water per year. Many different factors make the rate of impairment quicker to boaters than drivers such as the motion of the boat, the vibration and the noise of the engine, the sun, the wind, and the spray from the water. The Coast Guard statistics show that over half of the deaths on water are caused from the boat being capsized or the victim falling overboard. There are very stiff penalties for BUI on both state and federal levels. There are a few things that you can do to ensure that your next boating outing is a safe one.

• Bring a wide variety of cool non-alcoholic drinks such as soda, lemonade, and iced tea.
• Bring a lot of different food and snacks.
• Wear clothing that will ensure that passengers will remain cool and comfortable.
• Limit the time of the boat trip to curb fatigue.
• If you want to have a party that has alcohol, dock the boat and have the festivities on shore. Make sure that you wait a reasonable time before getting back onto the boat.
• Make it a rule not to have alcohol on the boat at all.

Boating can be fun if done safely. If you have been injured because of someone not observing the proper boating safety, your Illinois personal injury attorney can assist you.