The US Coast Guard reported a 26% increase in boating accidents last year, and the number of fatalities increased by more than 25%, as the number of new boaters increases.
Alcohol remains a major factor in fatal boating accidents
This reflects a greater number of inexperienced sailors.
The number of boating accidents was 5,265, with 3,191 resulting injuries, and 767 deaths.
The fatality rate was 6.5 deaths per 100,000 registered pleasure boats.
75% of the fatal victims of boating accidents drowned, and 86% of the victims were found without a life jacket.
Travel restrictions related to the pandemic caused sailors to spend more time aboard their vessels with their families rather than traveling abroad.
Alcohol remained the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2020, accounting for more than 100 deaths, or 18% of all fatalities.
