Most boating, ATV deaths preventable, OPP say

In an effort to reduce recreational deaths, OPP have released detail on the number and most common causes over the last 10 years.

OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair said in a statement many of the 443 boaters and ATV riders would still be alive had they made better decisions.

“Our data could not make it any clearer that the risks to all and the consequences for some do not change from year-to-year when mixing boating and off-roading with alcohol or drugs, driving carelessly, and not being equipped or prepared to survive an unexpected life-threatening turn of events on the water and on the trails."

From 2005 to 2014, 276 people died in 245 boating incidents while 167 died in 165 off-road vehicle incidents in OPP jurisdictions.

Alcohol/drugs, capsized boats and a lack of safety equipment are among the most common themes when it comes to summertime recreational deaths in the last decade, police say.

When it comes to off-road deaths, alcohol/drugs is the leading factor, and was involved in 77 fatalities, nearly half of all deaths.

Not wearing a helmet was nearly as big an issued, and contributed to 74 deaths, while speed was a contributor in 51 incidents.

The vast majority of  deaths, more than 85 per cent were among males and most who died, 153, were the drivers.

On the water, capsizing was involved in 78 of the 245 incidents, falling overboard was involved in 76 cases. Alcohol was the primary cause in just 26 boating mishaps and swamping in 14.

Most victims - 254 of the 276 deaths - were male and more than half were the boat's operator.

But OPP are raising the alarm of the lack of use of life-jackets and personal flotation devices (PFDs), which could have saved lives.

More than 80 per cent, or 226 people who died were not wearing the safety equipment at the time.