NH Has Lowest Boating Fatality Rate In Region

GILFORD, NH – New Hampshire has the lowest rate of recreational boating fatalities in New England, according to US Coast Guard statistics, and is among seven states that have the lowest rates in the country.

Coast Guard boating safety statistics for 2008, the most recent available, show New Hampshire with a boating fatality rate of fewer than 2.5 deaths per 100,000 registered boats.

The nationwide rate for 2008 was 5.6 fatalities per 100,000 registered boats.

David T. Barrett, Director of the Division of Safety Services, said the low fatality rates reflect a combination of factors, such as mandatory boater education, aggressive patrol and a cooperative spirit and partnership between the marine trades and water-related tourist businesses.

Barrett said there was one recreational boating fatality in New Hampshire during the 2008 boating season. There have been four thus far this season. None of this year’s fatalities resulted from collisions.

Other states with fatalities rates of fewer than 2.5 per 100,000 registered boats in 2008 were: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota.

Among the other New England States, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Island had fatality rates of between 7.5 and 10 deaths per 100,000 registered boats and Vermont had a rate of greater than 10 per 100,000.