The Departments of Justice and Public Safety and Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy, the RCMP and MADD Canada are bringing the Call 911 message to the waterways in Prince Edward Island to highlight the dangers of impaired boating and to encourage the boating community to help prevent it.
New signage that encourages people to call 911 if they see a boater they suspect is impaired are going up at local harbours and marinas starting this fall. Signs have been installed at harbours in Tracadie, Morell, Rustico, and Tignish, with more to come next spring.
The signage is part of an ongoing initiative by MADD Canada, with a grant from the Transport Canada Boating Safety Contribution Plan. In partnership with police services, municipalities, and regions, MADD Canada has produced and installed more than 400 “Report Impaired Boaters” signs at harbours, marinas and boat launches across the country.
“People are getting the message that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is unacceptable in Prince Edward Island, and we need to make sure that boaters also know that impaired boating can lead to tragedy,” said Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar. “Impaired driving numbers have decreased in this province, due, in part, to increased public awareness, as well as targeted enforcement activities by our police department partners, so let’s make sure that message is just as clear on the water as it is on our roads.”
Wade MacKinnon, Manager of Investigation and Enforcement, Department of Justice and Public Safety, said the Island’s Conservation Officers will be watching for impaired operators as they patrol waterways and welcome the public’s help.
“Conservation Officers patrol our Island waterways enforcing boating regulations and wildlife regulations, and watching impaired operation of motor boats,” he said. “People should know that they will be held responsible for impaired boating just as they would be for impaired driving.”
Boating tragedies occur every year because operators are impaired. In fact, alcohol is a factor in about 40 per cent of the estimated 150 recreational boating fatalities that occur in Canada each year. Alcohol diminishes judgment, reduces motor skills and balance, slows reaction times, reduces depth perception, and accelerates hypothermia.
Trying to operate a boat while impaired endangers the operator, passengers and other boaters on the water. Despite the risks, 37 per cent of boaters in Canada admit to consuming alcohol every time they boat, and nearly two-thirds admit to consuming alcohol sometimes when boating.
“Boating while impaired is just as dangerous, and just as illegal, as driving while impaired,” said Russ Stewart of MADD Canada Charlottetown Chapter. “Working with our partners, we are spreading the message about the dangers of impaired boating and encouraging the boating community to help prevent impairment-related tragedies.”
MADD Canada offers information on its web site regarding the general signs of impairment for boaters and tips on what information should be provided when calling 911. The effort to bring the Call 911 message to waterways is based on MADD Canada’s successful Campaign 911 program for roads and highways. Using signs, billboards, public service announcements, postcards, bookmarks and other materials, Campaign 911 educates and empowers the public to call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers.