EDUCATION: THE FOUNDATION OF BOATING SAFETY

Regulations, safer boats and improved equipment will do little to reduce accidents and fatalities unless boaters are educated on the regulations, their boat limitations and proper equipment use. This article describes the work of a task force to develop recreational boating education standards. The task force was made up of boating safety professionals from both the private and public sectors. This initiative sought to establish a minimum level of knowledge and skills to be taught by boating educational professionals within a 6- to 8-hour course of study. The general required topic areas are the boat, boating equipment, trip planning and preparation, marine environment, safe boat operation, emergency preparedness, other water activities and boating education practices. Courses meeting the standards can be approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the Coast Guard. The task force is now working to address the next issue--developing standards for testing the skills and knowledge factors that have been identified. The goal is to develop a national database of exam questions to support education (proficiency) standards by Spring 2004.

• Corporate Authors:

  United States Coast Guard

  National Maritime Center, 4200 Wilson Boulevard
  Arlington, VA  United States  22203-1804
• Authors:
  • Burgess, V
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of the Marine Safety Council
• Publication Date: 2003-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 32-33
• Serial:
  • Volume: 60
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Boating; Boats; Examinations; Knowledge; Marine safety; Public private partnerships; Safety education; Safety equipment; Safety programs; Standards
• Identifier Terms: National Association of State Boating Law Administrators; United States Coast Guard
• Uncontrolled Terms: Task forces
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00967952
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 8 2004 12:00AM