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Skip to content A publication of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Search for: Navigation Site navigation Home Departments Boat Force Files Boating Briefs Coast Guard Comments Nasbla News New BLAs partner PERSPECTIVE Features Issues June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November – December 2015 September – October 2015 July – August 2015 May – June 2015 About SCA Our Team Contact Calendar Features Facilitating harmonization to save lives The pace of change across all sectors is accelerating. The number of new products entering the marketplace is increasing; production, distribution and the supply chain are now global; new trade agreements aimed at streamlining and opening trade are all having an impact on which products are sold as well as when and how they gain […] Continue reading "Facilitating harmonization to save lives" → Published on August 2, 2016 August 2, 2016 By Chris P. James, Principal Engineer, Underwriters Laboratories and Maria Iafano, Director, UL Standards – Canada Features Fresh idea aims safety at new paddlers through manufacturers In 2015, frustrated over news that most paddlesports accidents were being caused by relative newcomers to the growing activity, the Water Sports Foundation, a nonprofit division of the Water Sports Industry Association, began looking for a new way to deliver boating safety messages to boaters. Since statistics showed that many boating deaths were from newcomers […] Continue reading "Fresh idea aims safety at new paddlers through manufacturers" → Published on August 2, 2016 By admin Features Safety foundation delivers over 500 life jackets to Oregon loaner stations IOBG Nautical Safety Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, partnered with U.S. Distributing (owned by Englund Marine Supply) to purchase and deliver over 500 life jackets to major water safety organizations for life jacket loaner stations throughout Oregon. The Oregon State Marine Board awarded IOBG a $2500 grant to purchase new life jackets. Jen Tonneson, Marine Board; […] Continue reading "Safety foundation delivers over 500 life jackets to Oregon loaner stations" → Published on August 2, 2016 By admin Features Learn about safety through Paddle Smart WebTV Earlier this year, the American Canoe Association launched the Paddle Smart WebTV Series, made possible by grant funding through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The goal of this video series is to reduce paddlesport-related accidents by providing immediate knowledge through short and focused instructional videos. The series covers stand up paddleboarding, recreational […] Continue reading "Learn about safety through Paddle Smart WebTV" → Published on August 2, 2016 By admin Features Idaho encourages boaters to invest in life This spring, the Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation kicked off a new boating safety campaign in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week. The department created a public service announcement extolling the importance of wearing a life jacket while boating. This PSA is supplemented by billboards urging boaters to invest in life by wearing their […] Continue reading "Idaho encourages boaters to invest in life" → Published on August 2, 2016 By admin Features State agency launches new interactive exhibit The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Boating Division and the Mystic Aquarium worked together on a new interactive safe boating exhibit that officially opened for National Safe Boating Week. The aquarium had an exhibit of remotely operated miniature yachts in their fresh water pond. Additional signage was added beside the small pond to […] Continue reading "State agency launches new interactive exhibit" → Published on August 2, 2016 By admin Features Why aren’t boaters paying attention? In his article Fatal Distraction, Major Richard Moore challenges the boating safety community to work together to make recreational boaters more aware of the dangers associated with not paying full attention to their primary task at hand—navigating their vessels. Accident statistics make a good case for his counsel and offer good reason why addressing distracted […] Continue reading "Why aren’t boaters paying attention?" → Published on July 1, 2016 July 8, 2016 By Deborah Gona, Ph.D., Research Consultant, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Features Fatal Distraction Nearly one-fourth of the nation’s reported recreational boating accidents in 2015 were determined to either be the result of operator inattention or no proper lookout. dis·tract·ed boat·ing noun the practice of operating a boat while engaged in any activity that diverts a person’s attention away from the primary task of safe navigation. It’s forecasted to […] Continue reading "Fatal Distraction" → Published on July 1, 2016 July 8, 2016 By Major Richard Moore, Boating Law Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Features Boating deaths third lowest on record in 2015 The U.S. Coast Guard recently released its 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics report, revealing that boating fatalities nationwide totaled 626, the third-lowest number of yearly boating fatalities on record. From 2014 to 2015, injuries decreased from 2,678 to 2,613, a 2.4 percent decrease; deaths increased from 610 to 626, a 2.6 percent increase; and the total […] Continue reading "Boating deaths third lowest on record in 2015" → Published on July 1, 2016 July 8, 2016 By U.S. Coast Guard Features Study shows wearing life jacket significantly increases odds of surviving recreational boating accident Requiring recreational boaters to wear life jackets would increase their odds of surviving an accident by 80 percent, according to a recent research study conducted at the University of Maryland Baltimore County in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition, life jacket effectiveness is at its peak when the watercraft is short: The odds […] Continue reading "Study shows wearing life jacket significantly increases odds of surviving recreational boating accident" → Published on June 16, 2016 July 8, 2016 By Dr. Christelle Viauroux, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County Features Engine Cutoff Switches – Why are they so hard to use? Since its first meeting in 1960, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators has developed a wide range of recreational boating safety public policy. Resolutions, model acts, model procedures and other documents have helped make boating safer for all on our nation’s waters. Unfortunately, very few states have enacted NASBLA’s Model Act on the […] Continue reading "Engine Cutoff Switches – Why are they so hard to use?" → Published on June 16, 2016 July 8, 2016 By John Fetterman, Deputy Executive Director, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators DEPARTMENTS Features Facilitating harmonization to save lives The pace of change across all sectors is accelerating. The number of new products entering the marketplace is increasing; production, distribution and the supply chain are now global; new trade agreements aimed at streamlining and opening trade are all having an impact on which products are sold as well as when and how they gain […] Continue reading → Published on August 2, 2016 August 2, 2016 By Chris P. James, Principal Engineer, Underwriters Laboratories and Maria Iafano, Director, UL Standards – Canada Features Fresh idea aims safety at new paddlers through manufacturers In 2015, frustrated over news that most paddlesports accidents were being caused by relative newcomers to the growing activity, the Water Sports Foundation, a nonprofit division of the Water Sports Industry Association, began looking for a new way to deliver boating safety messages to boaters. Since statistics showed that many boating deaths were from newcomers […] Continue reading → Published ...