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Building a Better Ship:Building a Better Ship:Quality Improvements Quality Improvements
In Recreational Boating Accident Reporting In Recreational Boating Accident Reporting
Data and ProcessesData and Processes
Richard Moore, Florida FWC
Jeff Ludwig, USCG
Gary Haupt, Accident Investigation Instructor
Deb Gona, NASBLA ERAC Liaison
Tammy Terry, ERAC Chair, Ohio DNR
Dr. Ernest Marshburn, East Carolina University
Building a Better Ship
• Requires a team effort
• Requires communication
• Requires qualified personnel
• Requires a common “language”
• Requires testing
Why It Matters
• Various issues identified in accident reporting data collection and processes by:
– NBSAC
– ERAC
– Other agencies and organizations
Today’s Updates
• Building a Better Ship
– USCG Recreational Vessel Accident Reporting Notice and Request for Comments Results
– ERAC/USCG Accident Reporting Terms and Definitions Project Updates
• Testing Our Vessel
– Advanced Spatial Analysis of Accident Risks in Recreational Boating – Dr. Ernest Marshburn
Recreational Vessel Accident Reporting
Notice of Advisory Committee recommendations;
Request for additional public comments
Published in the Federal Register
on September 6, 2011
90-Day Comment period
35 Comments Received
-31 State Reporting Authorities
-NASBLA
-Three Other Commenters
55% of the State Reporting Authorities Commented
- Comments are pretty evenly distributed among the states
(as ranked by number of reported accidents)
The Notice Contained 29 Questions
- Responses to those questions are critical to informing the USCG’s decision-making process
-Of the 29 questions, 16 had responses which could be evaluated on a “Yes”, “No” or
“Maybe” scale
Some of the Most Important Questions
- Would the states support a two-tier system – 83% “Yes”
- Would the public support a two-tier system - 71% “Yes”
-Would the two-tier system improve the number of accidents reported – 46% “Yes”
The USCG Takeaway from Reviewing the Comments
- There is general support for revisions to the accident reporting system consistent
with the NBSAC recommendation
- However, the “devil is in the details”
Concern Was Noted Over…
- Reporting timelines
- Scope of “investigations”
- Lack of authority to compel individuals to report and local
agencies to “cooperate”
Two-Tier Concept1st Tier
- Law Enforcement is notified that an accident occurred involving the boat owner, operator, occupant or witness
- Basic “who”, “what”, “where” and “when” is provided
Two-Tier Concept2nd Tier
- Law Enforcement follows up on the “what”, “where” and “when”
details, along with the all important “why”
Two-Tier ConceptTimelines
- 1st Tier: 30 days (consistent with existing requirement)
- 2nd Tier: TBD (sufficient to allow for investigation, but still allow USCG to
include in annual report published in late May on next calendar year)
Concerns over what an “investigation” consists of are
understandable
- In most cases, this could consist of telephone or e-mail follow-up to collect pertinent information
- In the case of serious accidents or fatalities, more thorough techniques might be required –
but this is already done in these cases
Compelling those involved in accidents to report, and local
agencies to forward information to state reporting
authorities, always has the potential to be a challenge
- The USCG believes that by simplifying the operator requirement, it will be easier to
educate and people will be more likely to submit reports
- The USCG also believes that by clarifying reporting requirements and adopting a two-tier system, it will be easier for local authorities to
forward accident reports to state reporting authorities
The Way Forward…
The Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety intends to initiate
rulemaking to revise recreational boating accident requirements
The Way Forward…
- We recognize that providing comments on recommendations and vague concepts is difficult
-The next step should be a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and request for comments that includes a concrete proposal that clearly
identifies the responsibilities of all parties involved in accident reporting
The Way Forward…
Timelines are uncertain at this point, but we will keep the NASBLA membership
informed through the ERAC Committee
What is the best primary descriptor of your agency?
0%
0%
0%
0%
0% 1. Fish and/or Game
2. Environmental Protection
3. Public Safety/State Police/Highway or Water Patrol
4. State Parks
5. Boating Program Administration Only
10
Did your state respond to the USCG Notice for Comments?
59%
17%
24%
10
1. Yes
2. No
3. I’m Not Sure
What was the primary barrier to your participation in this process?
39%
14%
4%
0%
21%
4%
7%
0%
0%
11%
10
1. No barriers2. Too many questions/too many topics3. Too difficult to gather the information4. Not enough time to draft response5. Thought others would say the same thing as me6. Somehow I missed the notice7. Someone in agency dropped the ball8. Not sure anything will be done with the results 9. Issue just isn’t important to me10. Other… prepare to discuss
What was the secondary barrier to your participation in this process?
27%
12%
15%
4%
8%
0%
15%
12%
0%
8%
10
1. No barriers2. Too many questions/too many topics3. Too difficult to gather the information4. Not enough time to draft response5. Thought others would say the same thing as me6. Somehow I missed the notice7. Someone in agency dropped the ball8. Not sure anything will be done with the results 9. Issue just isn’t important to me10. Other… prepare to discuss
ERAC/USCG Accident Reporting Terms and
Definitions Project Updates
Scenario #1
If you were the Investigator, what would you choose as the Accident
Type/Event?
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
10
1. Collision with vessel
2. Person fell overboard
3. Capsizing
4. Person left boat voluntarily
5. Person fell on/within boat
6. Person ejected from boat
7. Other/describe
If you were the Investigator, what would you choose as the
Contributing Factor?
0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0% 1. Alcohol Use
2. Excessive speed
3. Hazardous waters
4. Improper lookout
5. Operator inattention
6. Operator inexperience
7. Sharp turn
8. Navigation rules violation
9. Other/Describe
10
Are there any other Contributing Factors associated with this
accident?
0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0% 1. Alcohol Use
2. Excessive speed
3. Hazardous waters
4. Improper lookout
5. Operator inattention
6. Operator inexperience
7. Sharp turn
8. Navigation rules violation
9. Other/Describe
10
Scenario #2
If you were the Investigator, what would you choose as the Accident
Type/Event?
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0% 1. Collision with vessel
2. Person fell overboard
3. Capsizing
4. Person left boat voluntarily
5. Person fell on/within boat
6. Person ejected from boat
7. Other/describe
10
If you were the Investigator, what would you choose as the
Contributing Factor?
0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
10
1. Alcohol Use
2. Excessive speed
3. Hazardous waters
4. Improper lookout
5. Operator inattention
6. Operator inexperience
7. Sharp turn
8. Navigation rules violation
9. Other/Describe
Are there any other Contributing Factors associated with this
accident?
0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0% 1. Alcohol Use
2. Excessive speed
3. Hazardous waters
4. Improper lookout
5. Operator inattention
6. Operator inexperience
7. Sharp turn
8. Navigation rules violation
9. Other/Describe
10
The investigation of the meaning of words is the beginning of education.
- Antisthenes, c. 445-c. 365 B.C.
Progress
• Accident Types List
• Accident Contributing Factors List
• Activity/Operations/Vessel Types Lists
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