Marine Safety

Since 2004 random breath testing has been conducted in NSW waterways, and with good reason. Over 25% of deaths caused by boating accidents (from 1992 to 2004) have had alcohol as a factor, and nearly one quarter of the people who died in such accidents were found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher. This is not surprising, since when a person has a BAC of 0.15%, they are twenty-five times more likely to have an accident than when they have a BAC of zero! It is sad to think that so many of these fatalities may not have occurred if the individuals concerned were aware of the height of their BAC range!

There are a lot of similarities between the dangers of drink driving on the roads and on the waterways. In both cases, concentration is affected, in addition to reaction time and the ability to multitask, but in the case of the waterways, there is no lighting, making visibility even harder. This is a real problem, since when people are heavily intoxicated they can't even focus properly in well-lit areas. In addition to this issue, if an intoxicated person falls into the water, they are more likely to catch hypothermia than if they were not intoxicated, hence a greater risk of drowning.

If an individual is tested as over 0.05%, they may be fined for more than $1,000! And this doesn't only apply to one person, since anyone who has some responsibility regarding the operation of a vessel, or who is the guardian of a minor, can be tested. As for minors, their BAC range must be zero! So don't get stuck in the water! Be smart, use the IMSMAAT Breathanalyser!