At 899,635 in 2014, Florida leads the nation in registered vessels – and it is estimated that up to 1,000.000 non-registered vessels actively use Florida’s waters. Florida also has the largest number of boating accidents each year.

Florida's 2014 Boating Accidents Statistical Report, compiled by the Boating and Waterways Section of The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Division of Law Enforcement, shows that the number of boats is up from last year – but reportable accidents are down: 634 compared to 736 in 2013.

According to the report, the statistics reflect data from “reportable boating accidents” that occurred in Florida. Boating accidents must meet at least one of the five criteria below to be classified as reportable:

• A person dies
• A person disappears under circumstances that indicate possible death or injury
• A person receives an injury requiring medical treatment beyond immediate first aid
• There is at least $2,000 aggregate property damage to the vessel(s) or other property
• There is a total loss of a vessel

Here is an overview:

BOATING ACCIDENT REVIEW

• Florida continues to lead the nation with a total number of 899,635 registered vessels in 2014.
• There were a total of 634 reportable boating accidents in 2014.

REPORTABLE BOATING ACCIDENT

• Collison with vessel was the leading type of accident with a total of 163 (26%).
• Towed watersport activities were involved in 16 accidents, resulting in 17 injuries. PWC were used inthree of the 16 accidents.
• Paddlecraft (canoes, kayaks, rowboats) were involved in 19 accidents resulting in 16 fatalities and five injuries
• May was the month with the highest number of accidents (90).
• Miami-Dade County reported the highest number of accidents and injuries (79 total accidents with 10 fatalities and 47 injuries).

REPORTABLE BOATING FATALITIES

• 64 fatal accidents for 2014 resulting in 73 fatalities.
• 8% of the fatal accidents were falls overboard (18 accidents). Boaters falling overboard remains the main cause of boating fatalities.
• The leading cause of death in fatal boating accidents was drowning 51 (70%).
• The deadliest month in 2014 was July with 17 fatalities.
• Alcohol or drug-use is reported to have played a role in 12% of boating fatalities.
• 86% of the victims of fatal boating accidents were males (63).
• 59% (42) of the 71 operators involved in fatal accidents were age 51 or older.
• 50% (37) of all vessels involved in fatal accidents in 2014 were 16 feet or less in length.

REPORTABLE BOATING INJURIES

There were 634 accidents resulting in 365 injuries. The rate of injury was 41 injuries per100,000 registered vessels.

REPORTABLE PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ACCIDENTS

• Personal watercraft (PWC) accounted for 12% of all registered vessels in Florida.
• PWC were involved in 16% (104) of reportable boating accidents.
• Rented PWC represented 50%(75) of PWC involved in accidents
• 54% of PWC accidents involved a collision with another vessel.
• 45% of PWC accidents occurred in Pinellas (19), Monroe (17) and Miami-Dade (11) counties.
• Five fatalities resulted from the 104 PWC accidents.

BOATING EDUCATION STATISTICS

• FWC issued 38,178 Boating Safety Education ID Cards in 2014.
• 60% of the cards were issued to persons born on or after January 1, 1988.
• Of the 38,178 cards issued, 28,115 were issued to males, 9,919 were issued to females. 144 did not enter their gender. An additional 8,525 cards were printed for lost, damaged and information changes.
• 82% of the operators involved in fatal accidents had no formal boater education.

Boating accident statistics for 2014 were compiled on 2/26/2015. Reports received after that date are not included in the following data. In 2014 there were four missing persons reported. There has not been any updated information as to their status. The four missing persons have been included in the fatality data.

Download the report for details, case studies, and other information – and be safe!