There are several other notable distinctions regarding PWC-related accidents and fatalities
There are several other notable distinctions regarding PWC-related accidents and fatalities. First, most PWC incidents occur on either borrowed or rented vessels and tend to occur during the first hour of operation. Second, most PWC incidents occur while the operator is cruising, as opposed to wake jumping or spinning, and they typically occur at moderate speeds (i.e., below 30 mph).
Third, most PWC incidents occur when riders are alone on a vessel. Accident rates tend to decrease significantly when two passengers are on board and very few accidents occur when three or four passengers are riding a single vessel. Finally, alcohol use tends to be substantially lower in PWC incidents than in boating ones (Branche et al. 1997; NTSB 1998).