(TWRA)
After a record-low year of eight boating-fatalities in 2019, the most boating-related fatalities in 37 years with 32 occurred on Tennessee waters in 2020, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in its year-end report.
Various outdoors activities saw a substantial increase in 2020 and boating was no exception.
Preliminary numbers indicate about 30 percent of the 2020 fatal incidents had alcohol/drugs as a contributing factor. In additions to the fatalities, there were 61 serious injury incidents that injured 82 individuals and 82 additional property damage incidents. TWRA wildlife officers also made 62 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests.
As the new year is underway, TWRA wildlife officers would encourage the boating public to help keep Tennessee waterways safe by doing things such as:
1) Take a boater safety course.
2) Wear your life jacket while out on the water.
3) Be aware of the water conditions around dams.
4) Always boat with a sober operator.
5) Report unsafe operation, boat accidents, or law violations to your nearest TWRA dispatch center.