Alcohol in fatal recreational boating accidents

18126664Final Report; July 1986 - February 1988PDFResearch PaperDOT-TSC-CG-88-1DOT-CG-D-04-88Alcohol useBoatingMarine safetyMaritime accidentsFatalitiesJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)Hoxie, PaulCardosi, KimStearns, Mary (Mary D.)Mengert, PeterJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Coast GuardNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human FactorsVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterBTS Data DirectoryData on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of fatal recreational boating accidentvictims were assembled for four states with reasonably good reporting on BAC between1980 and 1985. In all there were data on BAC for 370 dead boaters. Of these victims,roughly 30 percent had BACs above 0.10 percent, which is considered intoxicated onthe highways. Another 20 percent had BACs between 0.04 and 0.10 percent, whichindicates some alcohol-induced impairment. Elevated BACs were found to be significantly associated with accidents on Friday or Saturday night, males, two or morepersons on the boat, and calm water conditions