Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency asks all boaters to prepare for a safe boating season. This is the time of year to review safety protocol and make sure your vessel is in proper working condition and personal floatation devices (PFD) are in good shape. 14 boating fatalities occurred in 2015. TWRA officials believe nine fatalities would not have occurred, if PFD were in use.
“The goal of the agency isn’t to reduce boating fatalities.
It’s to have zero boating fatalities,” said Barry Baird, TWRA Region 3 boating officer. “Safety isn’t just about your vessel. It’s about all vessels on the water. If you’re being irresponsible, it negatively affects everyone around you. Review Tennessee’s safe boating information before heading out this year.”
TWRA ask boaters to wear their PFD and be courteous of other boaters on waterways. Boating safety information can be reviewed and new boaters can sign up for their boating safety class at tnwildlife.org.