Subject: NTSB PRESS RELEASE

FYI - edited just for boating safety:

National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2006

SB-06-48

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CUTTING HIGHWAY AND RECREATIONAL BOATING DEATHS MUST BE

"POLITICAL PRIORITY," NTSB URGES

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Washington, D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board today challenged State

legislatures and officials to make transportation safety a top "political priority" by enacting

and enforcing laws to cut down on the tens of thousands of people who are killed and injured on

the nation's highways and waterways every year...

Enhance Recreational Boating Safety

Recreational boating as a mode of transportation has a high loss of life, second only to highways.

In 2005, the Coast Guard reported that there were approximately 5,000 accidents, with 697

fatalities and 3, 451 injuries. Approximately seventy percent died from drowning. The Coast

Guard reports that about 87% of the drowning victims were not wearing personal flotation

devices (PFDs). In 1993 the Board asked the States (Safety Recommendation M-93-1) to

consider mandatory use of PFDs by children, demonstration of operator knowledge of safe

boating rules and skills, and operator licensing as methods to reduce the annual number of

recreational boating deaths. Four States still do not require PFDs for children. Fifteen States

have yet to require either mandatory education or an operator's license for recreational boat

operators. The Board also asked States (Safety Recommendation M-98-101) to require rental

businesses to provide safety instruction and training to all persons who operate rented

personal watercraft. Thirteen States have yet to require safety instruction at PWC rental

operations.

"Much progress has been made in recent years. But as we've seen today, more still needs to be

accomplished to safeguard citizens in a number of our States," Rosenker said.

Maps and tables providing State-by-State details for each of the recommendations be found on

the Board's website http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/mostwanted/state_issues.htm

NTSB Press Contacts:

(202) 314-6100 <