Trend Toward Safety Continues on Georgia Lakes, Rivers

Law enforcement officials say a greater awareness of risks has led to one of the safest summers on record on Georgia’s lakes and rivers.

Authorities say boaters have become more aware of and more careful to avoid the inherent risks on the water — especially the added dangers caused by excessive drinking.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the result is a long-term decrease in fatal boating accidents and drownings. Even the number of arrests for boating under the influence is down, despite a new law that lowered the threshold for intoxicated boating.

As the boating season reached its unofficial conclusion on Labor Day weekend, officers say they noticed that more and more boaters were taking safety seriously.