Table 2-44: Personal Watercraft Safety Data
Table 2-44: Personal Watercraft Safety Data
| 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | Total 1987-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 5 | 20 | 20 | 28 | 26 | 34 | 35 | 56 | 68 | 57 | 84 | 78 | 66 | 68 | 645 |
| Injured persons | 156 | 254 | 402 | 532 | 708 | 730 | 915 | 1,338 | 1,617 | 1,837 | 1,812 | 1,743 | 1,614 | 1,580 | 15,238 |
| Accidentsa | 376 | 650 | 844 | 1,162 | 1,513 | 1,650 | 2,236 | 3,002 | 3,986 | 4,099 | 4,070 | 3,607 | 3,374 | 3,268 | 33,837 |
| Sales | 29,000 | 48,000 | 64,000 | 72,000 | 68,000 | 79,000 | 107,000 | 142,000 | 200,000 | 191,000 | 176,000 | 130,000 | 106,000 | 92,000 | 1,412,000 |
| Number in use | 92,756 | 126,881 | 178,510 | 241,376 | 305,915 | 372,283 | 454,545 | 600,000 | 760,000 | 900,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 1,096,000 | 1,078,400 | b1,475,756 |
a Total vessels involved.
b Represents the number of unique personal watercraft used between 1987 and 2000, i.e., the number in use before 1987 plus the number sold between 1987 and 2000.
NOTES: Personal watercraft are less than 13 feet in length and are designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the craft rather than within the confines of the hull.
SOURCES:
Fatalities, Injuries, and Accidents:
U.S. Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard, Office of Boating Safety, Boating Statistics - 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001), Internet site http://www.uscgboating.org/saf/pdf/Boating_Statistics_2000.pdf as of Feb. 25, 2001.
Sales:
1987-1990: Personal Watercraft Industry Association, Internet site http://www.pwia.org/Abo_PWC.htm as of June 19, 2000.
1991-2000: Ibid., Internet site http://www.nmma.org/facts/boatingstats/2001/Files/unitsales.asp as of Feb. 25, 2001.
Use:
1987-96: National Marine Manufacturers Association, data compiled by the United States Coast Guard, personal communications.
1997-98: Ibid., Internet site http://www.nmma.org/facts/boatingstats/statistic98.html as of June 19, 2000.1999-2000: Ibid., Internet site http://www.nmma.org/facts/boatingstats/2001/files/populationestimates.asp as of Feb. 25, 2001.