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NTSB Pushes Mandatory Boater Education

The possibility of requiring boat operators to take a boating safety course or pass a test is back on the table in California . The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has become a driving force behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education in all states. Mandatory Boat Operator Education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements for 2004 and 2005."

In October, Mark Rosenker, Acting Chairman of the NTSB, came to Sacramento to meet with representatives of the Department of Boating and Waterways and the Resources Agency. He encouraged agency and department support for mandatory boating safety education legislation that may be proposed in 2006.

The meeting participants were:
Mark Rosenker, Acting Chairman, NTSB
Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager, NTSB
Thomas Doyle, NTSB Special Assistant
Mike Chrisman, Secretary for Resources, Resources Agency
Melinda Terry, Deputy Secretary for Legislation, Resources Agency
Sandy Cooney , Assistant Secretary for communications, Resources Agency
Alexandra Tollette , Assistant Director for Communications, Resources Agency
Raynor Tsuneyoshi, Director, Cal Boating
David Johnson , Deputy Director, Cal Boating
Dolores Farrell , Chief, Operations Division, Cal Boating

Mr. Rosenker has stated that the NTSB believes "it is imperative that all recreational boat operators demonstrate a clear understanding of boating safety rules, and an ability to appropriately operate their vessel. The Coast Guard continually estimates about 70 percent of accidents involve factors that could have been controlled by the operator and 80 percent of the fatalities occurred on boats operated by individuals who had not completed a boating safety education course."

Cal Boating is neither supporting nor opposing mandatory boating safety education legislation, but is facilitating the discussion on the issue. The Department will host two meetings in 2006 in northern and southern California to gather information from the boating community on whether there is a need for mandatory education and how it might be structured into possible legislation.

A 1999 bill that would have required mandatory boating safety education was passed by the Legislature, but was vetoed based on a lack of evidence that mandatory education would reduce motorboat accidents. However, more than thirty states now have some sort of mandatory education requirement for vessel operators and research is underway by the U.S. Coast Guard to gather statistical data about the success of such a law.

The photo was taken at a meeting between Cal Boating and the NTSB. Participants were (from left to right) Cal Boating Operations Chief Dolores Farrell ; NTSB Special Assistant Thomas Doyle; NTSB National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior Transportation Safety Advocate Bill Gossard ; Cal Boating Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi; NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker; and Cal Boating Deputy Director David Johnson .