[Transcript]
Boating is a favorite activity for people all across America. While fun, this activity can quickly turn dangerous. One of the main reasons we see reckless boating is due to a lack of driver education and licensing requirements. Think about when you get your driver's license: you've got to take a driver's education course, get a learner's permit, pass the written exam, and then pass the driver's test, all before we ever get a license to drive.
That's in place to ensure that the person operating the vehicle knows how to operate it safely. Shouldn't the same be required if someone driving a boat? Boat wrecks can cause about as much damage and injury as a car wreck. In Texas, the boating safety requirements are almost non existent. To be able to drive a boat above 15 horsepower, the driver must either be born before 1993, and they wouldn't have to take any sort of certification course. Or if they were born after 1993, they would have to be 13 or older and take a certification course.
But shockingly, there are no extra exams, practice or other educational requirements. What's more, is that children under 13 can drive a boat with any adult that's 18 or older, depending on who's behind the wheel. It's easy to see why these boating laws can be a safety problem. While boating advocates are working hard to make laws stronger, it's up to the boat operators to understand their responsibility to keep others safe. What was supposed to be a fun day at the lake can turn catastrophic if boaters are acting irresponsibly.
If you or someone you know was seriously injured or killed due to boating negligence, contact our firm. We hold reckless boat drivers accountable for their lack of care when it comes to safety.