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

Help Us Build the Boat

Setting Sail