As per the terms of agreement with the Coast Guard, each state must submit accident reporting data – but if that’s your only interaction with this important information you’re “missing the boat.” In this must-see session, we’ll be exploring why accident reporting and quality data collection are important (including an overview of federal mandates and current use of existing data at the state and federal levels); identification of problems with the data that has been collected to date (including data gaps and analysis issues); what is currently being done or recommended in the future to resolve data issues and make the information collected more valid and valuable (including important changes coming to the accident reporting processes); and how YOU can use past, present and future boating accident data – at the state and federal levels – to identify trends and issues, improve your programs, and measure the success of your efforts in recreational boating safety.

1. Tuesday, September 14, 2010 NASBLA Annual Conference Honolulu, Hawai’i Tammy Terry, Ohio Richard Moore, Florida Get the Most Out of Your Boating Accident Reports

3. Knowing the Seas – What are the Federal Mandates Regarding Accident Reporting?

4. 33 CFR 173.55 Conditions for a Report – Specific occurrences involving the vessel or its equipment that require operator/owner to file a BAR 33 CFR 173.55 (c) Who Submits the Report – Operator/owner files BAR with reporting authority 33 CFR Part 173 Subpart C – Casualty and Accident Reporting 33 CFR Part 174 Subpart C – Casualty Reporting System Requirements

5. 33 CFR 173.57 Content of Report Number, name of vessel (a) Name, DOB, contact info, experience, boating education level of instructor (h) Availability and use of PFDs (o) Cause of the accident, determination of alcohol (v) Name, Address of vessel owner (b) Name, contact info of operator (i) Type and amount of fire extinguisher (p) Make, model, type, beam width, depth, hp, propulsion, fuel, construction, year built (w) Name of nearest city, county, state, body of water (c) Number of people onboard/towed (j) Nature, extent of injury (q) Name, contact info of witness (x) Time and date (d) Name, contact info, DOB of victim (k) Property damage estimate and description (r) HIN (y) Location (e) Cause of death (l) Description of equipment failure if a cause of accident (s) Name and contact info of person submitting report (z) Visibility, weather, water conditions (f) Weather forecasts available, use prior to accident (m) Description of casualty (t) Air and water temperature (g) Name, contact info of owner, property damaged (n) Type of operation and accident (u)

6. 33 CFR 173.53 & 33 CFR 173.55 Timelines for Report Notification and Submission – Operator/owner files BAR with reporting authority within timeframe; requirements depend on nature of incident (deaths, injuries, vessel/property damage) 33 CFR 174.121 Forwarding of Reports to Coast Guard – Within 30 days of its receipt of accident report, State forwards report data to Coast Guard HQ

7. Get to Know Prior Explorers – What are Federal Uses of Accident Reporting Data?

8. Each year, the Boating Safety Division produces a statistics report on recreational boating accidents. www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx The report gives a national perspective on accident causes and types, and also provides charts of state/territory data. USCG Boating Safety Division

10. NBSAC, established by the Federal Boating Safety Act of 1971, uses the data as it advises the USCG on a range of boating safety matters. Currently, NBSAC subgroups are advising on the use of data to measure the impact of various objectives of the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. National Boating Safety Advisory Council

11. Get to Know Prior Explorers – What other Groups and Organizations are using Accident Reporting Data?

13. Identifying human-, boat-, and external factors relating to recreational boating accidents/injuries/fatalities Analyzing incidents and trends associated with operator non-compliance with safety equipment carriage requirements Analyzing factors specific to fatalities among children and youth Analyzing fatality patterns as they relate to safety awareness-building campaigns NASBLA Engineering, Reporting and Analysis Committee (ERAC)

14. Developing recommended guidance for investigators and BARD-Web data entry personnel: types of boating accidents, contributing factors/causes, vessel type, activity, operation (terms and definitions) Analyzing accident reporting gaps Information on all of these projects and more can be found at: www.nasbla.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3305 NASBLA Engineering, Reporting and Analysis Committee (ERAC)

15. Get to Know Prior Explorers – What are State Uses of Accident Reporting Data?

17. Taking it to the “next level” by using state and local trends in accident/injury/fatality data to determine the success of programs and try to hone in on problem areas. Individual States

18. Looked at accident types on Candlewood Lake – Connecticut’s largest lake - to determine if special regulations were needed on the lake Individual States Connecticut

19. Connecticut

23. Developing Improved Navigation Tools What are Critical Data and Process Issues in Accident Reporting?

30. Get on Board – Charting a Clearer Course What’s Being Done? What Can You Do?

41. QUESTIONS?