BUI: Boating Under the Influence

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a problem in all states and Georgia is no exception. While it is commonly known and accepted that driving under the influence of alcohol causes traffic collisions, many people do not think about the fact that it causes accidents while boating or operating watercraft as well. Drinking is common when people are out on the lake relaxing- but while boating seems like more of a recreational activity than a responsibility, drinking and driving a boat is prohibited.

Statistically, a person who has a blood alcohol concentration of.08 percent is ten times more likely to get in an accident while operating a watercraft. Even more so than operating a motor vehicle, there are outside factors while operating a boat that have the ability to make intoxication more intense. The vibration of the boat can be distracting as well as the wind and spray of the water. A combination of these factors can even prove deadly.