2011: A Safer Year at Lake of the Ozarks

It was a safer year for boating on Lake of the Ozarks, according to year-end accident numbers released by the marine operations of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Education, enforcement and the economy have all played a role in making the lake a safer waterway.
In 2011, boaters were involved in 70 accidents compared to 2010 when 112 accidents were recorded, according to Capt. Matt Walz, who is in charge of District 2 marine operations for Troop F of the highway patrol.

The number of boating related fatalities in 2010 and 2011 were the same with 2 recorded in each calendar year. However, Walz said one of the fatalities in 2011 that occurred on the water was due to a health-related issue.

Walz attributes the decline to better educated boaters and years of strong enforcement. The move by Missouri several years ago to mandatory boater education has contributed to the overall decline as has the number of boaters who use designated captains reducing the number of accidents due to drunk driving.

Economic conditions have also been a factor, he said. Boaters are not moving around as much, spending more time anchored rather than moving from one location to another.