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 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 5 | 20 | 20 | 28 | 26 | 34 | 35 | 56 | 68 | 57 | 84 | 78 | 66 | 68 | 50 | 71 | 57 | 56 | 65 |
| Injured persons | 156 | 254 | 402 | 532 | 708 | 730 | 915 | 1,338 | 1,617 | 1,837 | 1,812 | 1,743 | 1,614 | 1,580 | 1,424 | 1,362 | 1,228 | 952 | 1,007 |
| 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 | 2,562 | 2,225 | 1,994 | 1,664 | 1,692 |
| 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 | 80,900 | 79,300 | 80,600 | 79,500 | 80,200 |
| 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 | 1,239,400 | 1,293,900 | 1,353,700 | 1,420,000 | 1,480,000 | 1,550,000 |
a Total vessels involved.
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.
Data on personal watercraft sales and number in use are estimates.
SOURCES
Fatalities, injuries, and accidents:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (formerly U.S. Department of Transportation), United States Coast Guard, Office of Boating Safety, Boating Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual issues), Internet site http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_stats.htm as of Nov. 16, 2006.
Sales:
1987-90: Personal Watercraft Industry Association, Internet site http://www.pwia.org/Abo_PWC.htm as of June 19, 2000.
1991-2005: Ibid., Internet site http://www.nmma.org/facts/boatingstats/2005/files/Abstract.pdf as of Nov. 16, 2006.
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.
1999-2005: Ibid., Internet site http://www.nmma.org/facts/boatingstats/2005/files/Abstract.pdf as of Nov. 16, 2006.