Safe Boating Week in New York starts tomorrow

Yahoo

16-05-2025

NEW YORK STATE (WWTI) – The impending start of summer means plenty of New Yorkers will be on the water.
National Safe Boating Week begins tomorrow and runs through May 23. The event is a campaign sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council and provides an opportunity to spread the message of boating safety and encourage boater education. During the season, boaters are reminded to practice safe and responsible boating, always wear a life jacket, and be alert and aware while on the water.
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The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) begins its recreational boating season to coincide with National Safe Boating Week.
As the 2025 boating season begins, safety on New York waters remains our top priority. Our Marine Services team has been working hard to ensure boaters are prepared before heading out. Brianna's Law plays a vital role in promoting responsibility and saving lives on the water.
State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons
One the newest things for state boaters is that Brianna's Law is in effect Brianna's Law as of January 1. The law requires safe boating certificate for all motorized boat operators, regardless of age.
Brianna's Law is named after Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old girl who died in a boating accident on Long Island when a boat ran into her family's cabin cruiser in August 2005. The law was phased in over several years and gradually expanded to include all operators by the start of this year.
Since the law was enacted, 213,637 have taken the course and, in the first four months of this year, more people have earned a certificate than all of 2024.
As part of this special week, the state reminds kayakers and other paddle craft operators that they are boaters too. In addition to a properly sized U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket, paddlers must also carry a sound signaling device, such as a whistle, on board.
Kayaks, canoes and row boats can be hard for larger boats to see. Paddlers are advised to stay close to shore, wear bright colors, and consider using reflective paddle stickers or a flag to increase your visibility to other boaters.
Boaters can also request free reflective paddle stickers by sending a self-addressed, stamped legal size envelope to: NYS Parks Marine Services Bureau Safety Stickers Albany, NY 12238.
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