New York State Parks Encourage All Motorboat Operators to Complete Boating Safety Education to Prevent Boating Accidents

The state of New York is encouraging all individuals operating motorboats, or those with plans to be out on the waterways in a motorized, sail or human powered boat to complete Boating Safety Education to avoid boating accidents.

Because drowning accounts for nearly 80% of all boating fatalities, New York state parks encourage boaters to wear life jackets each time they are on the water. To help avoid boat accidents, New York State requires individuals to acquire Safe Boating Certificate.

A boating safety certificate can be acquired by successfully finishing the New York Safe Boating Course, sponsored by the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. The boating safety course is designed as an all-inclusive boat safety course, teaching the fundamentals of safe boating operation and has been approved by the National Association of Boating Law Administrators.

The New York State Boating Safety course is available throughout the state of New York. This boat safety course requires a minimum of eight credit hours of classroom instruction time. Some volunteer-based boating safety courses are taught free of charge, while other courses are taught at minimal costs, with fees varying from course to course.

"Fatal boating accidents are easily avoidable with the right training," said Ross Cellino. "We encourage all New York state residents currently operating or planning to operate a motorized, sail or human powered boat to earn a Boating Safety Certificate."

Holding a Safe Boating Certificate may allow discounted boating insurance and can be used in other states and countries requiring boating safety education.

Cellino & Barnes is a New York personal injury law firm, with offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Manhattan, Garden City and Melville (Long Island) New York. Cellino & Barnes focuses strictly on personal injury cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, construction accidents, product liability and more.