A review of the United States Coast Guard annual statistics shows a recurring pattern that operator controllable factors are consistently the top five primary factors of boating accidents. Past efforts of the recreational boating community have focused on knowledge based training and outreach efforts, with the metric being how many boaters have had knowledge training. It would appear a continued focus on this metric does not address the issues that have lead to the continued dominance of operator controllable factors as the primary factor in boating accidents. What the statistics do appear to show is a need for skills training and an assessment of the impact that training has on operator controllable factors. Initial survey results of Discover Boating HOST program participants indicated that 54% had an increased awareness of safety; 61% believe the training helped them avoid an accident or unsafe situation; and 18% reported an increase in their life jacket wear rate. This presentation offers that using a metric that addresses the skills of boat operators is more appropriate to achieving the National Recreational Boating Safety Program 2017-2022 Strategic Plan priority of cultivating “. . . a boating public that is better prepared to engage in safer boating behaviors.”

1. Education And Training:
Are We Focused On the
Wrong Metric?
April 26, 2017
Dr. Duane ‘Mike’ Smith, DM
Captain, USCG (ret.)
IBWSS 2017
St Petersburg, FL

2. Agenda
• Accidents: Top primary factors
• Boating accident statistics
• 2017 Strategic Plan priorities/initiatives
• 2017 Strategic Plan MOEs
• Skills training effects
• Recommendations

3. Accidents:
Top five primary factors
• Operator inattention
• Operator inexperience
• Improper lookout
• Excessive Speed
In 2015 53% of accidents and 40% of fatalities
were due to operator controllable factors.
2015 Recreational Boating Statistics
Source: USCG

4. Top Operator Primary
Causes
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Inattention
Inexperience
Lookout
Speed
Operator
Controlled
Op Trend
Over last 10 years, operator controlled events increasing as % of primary factor in
recreational boating accidents. USCG RBS Stats

5. Boater Education
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
% No Education
% No Education
Trend
Where instruction was known, percent of deaths on boats where the
operator did not receive boating safety instruction
USCG RBS Stats 2001-2015

6. 2017 Strategic Plan
Challenges/Opportunities
• Challenges
– Gaps in safe boating behaviors exist
– Grants should focus on measurable goals
• Opportunities
– Identify factors that influence behavioral change
– Implement intervention to effect behavioral
change
– Evaluate/modify intervention
“Proper boat-handling practices . . . can go a long way toward reducing
the chances of an injury”.
Seaworthy Magazine, April 2015, Boating Safety Overview

7. 2017 Strategic Plan
Priorities/Initiatives
• Priorities
– Cultivate safer boating behaviors
– Make better informed policy decisions
– Nurture collaboration
• Initiatives
– Improve and expand education, training and
outreach
– Update policies, regulations and standards
– Improve on boating data collection
Make informed decisions based on improved data and measures.

8. Past MOPs
• Number of course completion certificates
2007 and 2012
• Number of advanced boating training
completions 2007 and 2012

9. Strategic Plan MOPs
• Number of certificates for knowledge education
• Number of certificates for on-water training
• Accidents in the targeted age groups
• Life jacket wear by high risk boaters
• Number of boaters who have completed boating
education courses (for each domain) meeting
American National Standards
• NavRule violations as a causal factor per 100,000
exposure hours

10. Skills Training
“An emphasis on advanced knowledge and on-
water, hands-on skills may prove to be a needed
advancement in the RBS program to drive down
boating casualties”. (Report on the National Recreational
Boating Strategic Plan 2012-2016, p.22)
“On-water, hands-on practice reinforces good
theory learned in the classroom and develops
skills needed for hazard recognition and accident
avoidance”. (Report on the National Recreational Boating Strategic
Plan 2012-2016, p.22)
“The safety risk is exacerbated not only by the
diversity of waterway users but also by
differences in their experience, marine
knowledge, and boat-handling skills”. (NTSB Report
MSR1701, p. 3)

11. Skills Training Impact
• 83% believe HOT increased their boating skills.
• 60% sought to share skills gained from the
course.
• 70% believe the training helped them avoid an
accident or unsafe situation.
• 36% have taken additional training.
• 15% have increased their wear rate for
lifejackets.
Capable – Confident - Safe

12. Public Health Approach
• Identify problem
• Postulate the factor that
will address problem
• Develop and apply an
intervention
• Wide scale
implementation of the
intervention
“Determining how to focus education efforts will not only save time and
resources, but it should also save lives”.
Pam Dillion, NASBLA

13. Recommendations
• Make skills training a national priority
• Develop a national network of skills
trainers
• Create a culture of safety by developing
competent and capable boaters
• Change the non-profit grant program focus
An emphasis on advanced knowledge and on-water, hands-on skills may prove to be
a needed advancement in the RBS program to drive down boating casualties.
Report on the National Recreational Boating Strategic Plan 2012-2016, p.22

14. “In carrying out this plan, we, the recreational boating safety
community will strive to create a safety culture where boaters value
and demonstrate safer boating practices and behaviors. We will
strive to achieve better boat operator preparedness through on-
water boating courses and an a greater understanding of and
compliance with navigation rules”.
National Recreational Boating Safety Program 2017-2021 Strategic Plan
Questions ??