As we approach the July 4th holiday weekend, a leading online boating safety educator, BOATERexam.com, says that U.S. Coast Guard statistics show us how to greatly reduce the chances of being in a serious accident.

In their 2010 report on recreational boating, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that in there were 672 recreational boating fatalities. Of these deaths:

• Only 6% occurred on vessels where the operator had taken a NASBLA-approved boating course (0% occurred on vessels where that course was delivered over the Internet).
• In 19%, alcohol was cited as the leading accident cause.
• In drowning deaths, 88% of victims were not wearing a lifejacket.

From Recreational Boating Statistics 2010, U.S. Coast Guard

“If you take a boating safety course, wear your lifejacket, and don’t drink while boating, you reduce your chance of being in a fatal accident almost to zero,” says Kerry Moher, VP at BOATERexam.com. “An Independence Day weekend with no fatalities is our ultimate goal.”

To encourage boaters to take a boating safety course before the July 4th weekend, BOATERexam.com is offering a discount of 15% on its course fee. Students can receive the discount by using the code JULY4 when registering and paying for their course. The code is valid until July 8, 2012.

Image courtesy of BOATERexam.com