New light cast on UK leisure boating statistics
by Royal Yachting Association 10 Jun 2003 13:03 BST
Current reporting of serious incident statistics for UK waters exaggerates the risk of recreational boating, research by a group of marine safety experts has concluded.
The study has shown that only 8% of the total fatalities recorded on British coastal and inland waters in 2002 involved leisure boating activities.
However, media coverage of headline figures provided by the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency), the body responsible for the safety of craft in British waters, tended to focus on high-profile incidents such as the death of a friend of DJ Chris Evans. This made it appear that many more of the 317 reported deaths were connected to recreational boating than was actually the case.
The study by the Boating Safety Task Force, an initiative coordinated by the RYA, confirmed that only 28 of the reported fatalities involved recreational boating. Of these, several involved sudden illness, rather than the activity being undertaken.
This compared with 263 deaths that were not linked to boating in any way. These included suicides and fallers, swimmers, people cut off by the tide or swept into the sea by waves, vehicles driven or crashing into water, and a variety of other causes including the death of 11 in a helicopter crash. The majority of incidents involving boats related to fishing and other commercial vessels.
As a result of the findings, the RYA has gained the MCA’s agreement to review the future presentation of the data underpinning the headline figures. The two organisations will also collaborate on means to identify specific problem areas where there is potential to improve the uptake of training courses and the provision of safety guidance to recreational boaters.
The Boating Safety Task Force believes its research highlights the key role of training, rather than regulation, in reducing the overall level of incidents afloat.
“In short, Britain’s safety record on boating for pleasure is much better than some of last year’s headlines suggested,” says Task Force coordinator and RYA chief motorboating and powerboat instructor, Jon Mendez. “Despite our very crowded waters, the statistics prove beyond doubt that the UK’s voluntary system results in fewer incidents and fatalities than in countries where recreational boating safety is governed by legislation.
“We are delighted that the MCA has responded so positively to our study and we look forward to working with them, through the RYA, to improve safety standards and awareness amongst the UK leisure boating community yet further”