August 08, 2006

Driver's Ed for Boaters...

Massachusetts is joining a growing number of states that is considering mandatory boater education. The current bill before the legislature, H.B.4543, would require all people born after January 1, 1988 to complete a boating safety course. This pending law is similar to ones being reviewed in over a half dozen different states.

It makes sense. Boating education is essential - it will make boating safer and thus more enjoyable for everyone. We don’t think twice about driver’s education when it comes to cars and I don’t think it should be any different for boats. Everyone needs to know the “rules of the road”.

RIBCRAFT, along with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), fully supports this pending legislation and hopes you do as well.

To see if your state currently requires a boating education course or has similar legislation pending as Massachusetts, please visit the NASBLA website. Education is the key to everyone's boating safety and on the water fun!

Posted by ribcraftusa at August 8, 2006 10:29 AM