Alcohol Can Impair a Boater’s Judgement, Balance, Vision, and Reaction Time
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Dear PSA Director,
U.S. Coast Guard 2016 data reveal that alcohol use remains the primary contributing factor of recreational boater deaths. Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgement, balance, vision, and reaction time. Operation Dry Water is a national awareness and enforcement campaign focused on reducing the number of alcohol and drug related accidents and fatalities on the water. Operation Dry Water is coordinated by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard as well as local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
The Operation Dry Water campaign lasts the entire year. Since the inception of the Operation Dry Water Campaign in 2009, law enforcement officers have removed 3,038 BUI operators from the nation’s waterways and made contact with over 1.1 million boaters during the annual three-day weekend. Operation Dry Water enforcement weekend is held annually near the Fourth of July holiday, a holiday known for increased boaters on the water where alcohol use is prevalent, as are subsequent boating accidents and fatalities. Agencies from all 56 U.S. states, trusts and territories are expected to participate in the enforcement weekend.
Please help your listeners find out this important information by placing this PSA in heavy rotation now through Sunday, July 15, 2018.
Thank you in advance for your support,
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
:30 PSA SCRIPT
PLANNING TO LOAD UP THE COOLER AND TAKE YOUR BOAT ON THE WATER? LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE ON HEIGHTENED ALERT THIS SUMMER – LOOKING FOR BOATERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. OPERATING A BOAT WHILE IMPAIRED IS ILLEGAL AND YOU CAN BE ARRESTED. MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO DRINK AND BOAT. KEEP BOATING SAFE BY BOATING SOBER. PAID FOR BY THE SPORT FISH RESTORATION AND BOATING TRUST FUND. LEARN MORE AT OPERATION-DRY-WATER-DOT-ORG.