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Safe Boating Week announced LANSING--Governor John Engler has declared May 18-24 as Safe Boating
Week in Michigan, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials
welcomed the declaration as an opportunity to remind all water sport
enthusiasts of the importance of boating safety. Michigan's Safe Boating Week runs concurrent with North American Safe
Boating week, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Boating
Safety Council, and the National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators. This year's theme is, "Be smart from the start, wear
your life jacket." Michigan is home to more than 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of
rivers and streams, and more freshwater shoreline than any other state.
Michigan annually registers over a million watercraft, more than any
other state in the nation, and certifies more boaters through safe
boating classes than any other state. Michigan DNR Director K.L. Cool noted that boaters not wearing life
jackets account for more than 70 percent of all fatalities. He said Safe
Boating Week is only one week, but the DNR's safety message to boaters
applies throughout the year. "Michigan is truly a Water Wonderland, and we want everyone to enjoy
their time on the water," Cool said. "But water enthusiasts must also
realize that safe, responsible, courteous boating is everyone's
responsibility. Each year, unsafe boating practices account for
injuries, deaths and property damage, most of which could have been
avoided. We encourage everyone on the water to wear life jackets and
demonstrate boating courtesy. With that in mind, we can enjoy the safest
season yet."
Source: MDNR
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