PWC and Boating safety officials are turning to education to enhance the awareness and safety of the boating community
According to the NTSB, most PWC accidents and fatalities are due to three factors: inattention, inexperience and/or inappropriate use of speed (1998). These factors have little to do with the vessel itself and stem from the fact that PWC riders receive little, if any, training before they embark on the water. Consequently, they are not familiar with navigational rules and regulations, they are not aware of PWC safety precautions and they may behave recklessly and irresponsibly.
To rectify this, boating safety officials are turning to education to enhance the awareness and safety of the boating community. Many states have institutionalized boating operation and safety training classes and several have implemented mandatory education requirements for some or all boaters. Although these requirements usually focus on younger boaters (i.e., children and teenagers) and rental customers, the high-profile controversy surrounding PWC safety and use has prompted many states to mandate education and training for PWC operators of all ages.
