With more than one million registered vessels traversing Florida’s waterways--not all of them operated by aficionados of safe motorboat conduct-- accidents are bound to happen. Sixty-nine people died last year from boating accidents. Eighty-eight percent of the fatalities were from drowning; none of the victims were wearing life jackets. It pays to wear a life jacket--no matter how uncomfortable, hot or cumbersome it feels.

California topped Florida in boating accidents with 757, compared to Florida’s 671, a staggering number itself. Most of this state’s boating fatalities occurred when a passenger fell overboard, and nearly 600 of the accidents occurred while the boat was moving. It proves boaters must be extra careful of their surroundings while the motor is running.

The majority of the accidents occurred on calm days, not rough seas. Fresh and salt bodies of water were about equal in the number of accidents. Alcohol contributed to only 15 percent of fatal boating accidents, a sign that boaters understand DWI isn’t just for cars.

The most likely accident scenario involved a 36- to 50-year-old male boater, operating a private vessel less than 18 feet long, in the month of July around 5 p.m., in Monroe County waters. As usual, the Keys led the state in accidents reported.