Monday, September 14, 2009

New Life Jacket Law Hits NY

New York is the first state to require life jackets to be worn on vessels up to 21 feet during the coldest months of the year.

In an effort to reduce boating deaths in the state, the law requires that people of all ages aboard all pleasure craft as large as 21 feet – including kayaks, row boats, sailboats and motorboats – wear life jackets while on a boat from November 1st to May 1st. This is in addition to the existing NY law requiring children under 12 to wear a PFD on boats up to 65 feet when on deck while underway.

The new law recognizes that small boats, cold water and lack of life jackets are a lethal combination. According to the Associated Press, about 90 percent of the people who died in US boating accidents last year were not wearing life jackets. Additionally, even though there are fewer boating deaths in the winter overall, the fatality rate from boating accidents typically increases in the colder months. For example, July of last year saw an 8% fatality rate nationally, compared to 25% in November.

So what’s the bottom line? If you boat in cold weather, wear a life jacket. It will not only save you a few bucks by avoiding a fine, but it could save your life.

11 comments:

  1. What we need - all of us boaters - is a lifejacket that is comfortable enough to wear all the time. I require that all passengers wear lifejackets when we're underway. That sometimes meets with groans, especially when it's hot, but I'm relentless. And it's probably cost me some repeat business. While it is possible to survive a dunking in the North Pacific, it is much more likely if the dunkee doesn't have to swim for his life.

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  2. Capt. Dan, I like your approach. Maybe your rule does cost you some repeat business, but so would the tragedy you're trying to prevent.

    For those who still doubt the importance of following the lead of this NY law, check out Alan Sorum's blog post about the value of wearing a life jacket in cold waters.

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  3. I think those that do not wear life jackets when appropriate because of stormy or cold weather are fools. That being said it is not the function of government to protect us from ourselves. If some fool on a private boat wants to take the risk that is his problem. Education is great - Government control over all aspects of our lives is not.

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  4. I also see the value of wearing a life jacket on a boat in cold weather just as I see the value in wearing a seat belt in a car or a helmet on a motorcycle. I just don't think that the government should have any say in it. I wear my PFD anyway but I don't like the idea of being forced to. If someone want's to be stupid and get killed over it then I say: That's one less stupid person clouding up humanity's gene pool.

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  5. all this law does is take away one more of our freedoms that our ancestors fought for us to have. it should be up to the individual to wear the adequate safety gear.how many more freedoms are we gonna let them take of ours before we stand up for ourselves?

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  6. What's next? No swimming for 1 hr after I eat?

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  7. I'd like to know how many tax payer dollars went into making this law? A life jacket is just common sense but Nov 1 to May 1 ??? Hello?? Most of our water ways are FROZEN during this time? I honestly hope that zero dollars were used to make this a law.

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  8. The waterways on Long Island are not frozen in November.........Not until Jan/Feb

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  9. Its a good law, IDC when yer water freezes...january..february or whenever, obviously you've never fell in 39 degree water...

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  10. New York State is deep in debt & getting deeper, this law means nothing but $$$$ to help feed the machine. Live free. Be free . Make your own decisions.

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  11. This is not about personal choice or extra money for NY,this is about other people who risk their well being to retrieve dead body's from freezing waters and the large costs associated with it!!

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