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| Florida Leads Nation in Boating Fatalities |
Florida continues its streak of leading the nation in deadly boating accidents with Miami Dade coming in first as the deadliest municipality in the state for boaters. Florida has been the deadliest boating community 16 times in the last 20 years.
Seventy-seven people were killed last year in boating accidents in Florida according to recently released statistics by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Thirteen of those deaths occurred in Miami Dade.
A plan to phase in mandatory boater education requirements has been floated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The plan would take effect over a period of 11 years. In 85% of the accidents in 2007, the boat's operator had no formal safety training.
In 2006, Florida had 68 people die in boating accidents. By comparison, Illinois had only 18 deaths and Michigan had 30 in that same one-year time period. Alcohol was a factor in 11 of the 68 deaths in Florida that year.
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