Brianna’s Law Becomes Law in New York

NEW YORK – As reported in an online article published by longisland.news12.com, Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed Brianna’s Law which will require anyone operating a powerboat to complete a safety course.

Approximately 20 years ago, a young girl named Brianna was killed in a tragic boating accident when her family’s boat was slammed by another boat in the Great South Bay.

Since Brianna’s tragic death, her mother has been advocating for stricter boater safety laws to prevent similar tragic accidents from happening in the future, stating that she “made a promise to my daughter that I will see this through and not watch another family go through the tragedy that we went through.”

Brianna’s mother finally received her wish.  Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed Brianna’s Law, which requires all operators of powerboats to complete a safety course.

Boating Safety Tips

Boating is an enjoyable activity that can be very dangerous if adequate safety measures are not followed.  The United States Coast Guard reported 4,291 boating accidents in 2017 that left 658 people dead and 2,629 people injured.  Additionally, the boating accidents collectively cost $46 million in property damage.  While it is not possible to prevent every boating accident, following essential safety tips can significantly reduce the number of boating accidents that lead to severe injuries or death.  Such safety tips include the following:

• Always wear a lifejacket and have extra lifejackets on board for all passengers;
• Take a safety course (for both boat operators and passengers);
• Know all boating rules and regulations, as well as the “rules of the road,” which are uniform rules, both written and unwritten, that most boaters follow worldwide;
• Have emergency equipment onboard and the ability to contact emergency personnel on land;
• Do not drink and operate a boat while intoxicated; and
• Understand your limits by staying within your experience level.

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