SUMMER’S here and that means Whitsundays residents will be out on the water in large numbers.
It’s important to stay safe, while still having fun, and Queensland authorities will be cracking down on dangerous boating behaviours these summer holidays.
In an effort to prevent on-water fatalities and injuries, Queensland Water Police, Maritime Safety Queensland and Seqwater are mounting joint campaigns to enforce the maritime ‘Fatal Five’.
The campaign will run from December 14, 2024, to February 2, 2025.
Extra patrols on Queensland waterways will be targeting:
- Drink and drug taking
- Speeding
- Lifejacket and safety equipment compliance
- Keeping a proper lookout and distance off
- Trip planning
There are currently more than one million recreation boat licence holders in Queensland (including personal watercraft/jet ski licences).
Drink and drug taking is even more dangerous in a boat than a car and can have the same fatal outcomes, according to the Queensland Police Service.
Police patrols will be particularly focussing on these offences during the school holidays.
Speeding continues to be the most common offence on the water, despite it being especially dangerous in congested waterways during peak holiday seasons.
Authorities will be targeting known problem areas across Queensland and will be coming down hard on those putting other waterway users in danger.
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) statistics show that, of 64 boat related drownings in the last five years, only five people were wearing life jackets at the time of their accident.
MSQ patrols will be making sure people are carrying the right number and right type of lifejackets for everyone on board (especially children) and that they are carrying the right safety equipment, such as EPIRBS.
Seqwater is warning boaties that recent heavy rains mean dams this summer could be vastly different waterways than they were just weeks ago.
Keeping a proper lookout for newly submerged hazards, keeping to safe speeds and being acutely aware of who else is on the water, and what they are doing, is vital to everyone coming home safely from a day on inland waterways and dams.
Proper trip planning is the key to any safe boating adventure, no matter how big or small your boat or what type of water you are going out on.
Checking the weather forecast to decide if you go out, or not, is the very first thing a skipper should do.
Checking the seaworthiness of your vessel, whether you have enough fresh fuel (and some extra) to get back from your destination, is just common sense.
Checking your safety equipment to make sure you have the right gear, and enough of it for all aboard, can be an absolute life saver if something goes wrong.
“Water Police have zero tolerance for anyone operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or over the blood alcohol limit,” a QPS spokesperson said.
“Anyone found to be risking the safety of themselves, their passengers or other vessels will be held to account.
“Put your lifejacket on and slow down. Keeping safe is that simple.”
