This summer is shaping up to be one of the biggest boating celebrations of the decade. This year, tens of thousands of anglers, water skiers, kayakers and pleasure boaters will converge on Arkansas waters to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Second Continental Congress’s formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking everyone to boat responsibly and avoid situations that could ruin the celebration — namely, boating under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
Sgt. Sydney Grant, Game and Fish boating law administrator, said Arkansas game wardens will be on the water to increase safety and reduce boating accidents that result from boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Boating while intoxicated can be even more dangerous than driving a car while intoxicated, as most boaters have less experience operating a boat. Boats also don’t have brakes and are slower to maneuver than cars. These slower reaction times to a sudden danger can be the difference between life and death.
Grant adds that the effects of alcohol are magnified by the conditions that boating creates.
“Sun, heat, wind and wave action all intensify alcohol’s impact,” Grant said. “A person who normally wouldn’t feel much effect of one or two beers in an air-conditioned home may find themselves impaired by the same amount of alcohol on the water.”
Even passengers should pay attention to their consumption levels.
“Drinking too much can lead to a dangerous situation or poor decisions for anyone,” Grant said. “We’ve also caught many people who enjoyed a day on the water, but then got in a car for the ride home, still under the effect of alcohol. Practicing a little restraint during your boating day helps us make both the roadways and waterways of the state safer during this big family summer.
“If we didn’t have to give a single ticket this summer for intoxicated boating, I think every game warden in Arkansas would celebrate,” Grant said. “Our job is to make sure people can enjoy the water safely and come home with great stories from their trips. We’re not here to ruin the fun. We simply ask everyone to be responsible, avoid overindulging, and always make sure you have a sober boat operator and designated driver.”