Several Quebec police services will be more present on the bodies of water this weekend as part of a concerted national recreational tourism operation.
The police will raise awareness among boaters, but they will also issue statements of offense if the rules are not respected. They will be present on the docks, on the bodies of water and on the nearby road when returning home.
This operation targets citizens engaged in nautical activities whose behavior could compromise their safety and that of other users.
“We want to make people aware of the behaviors to adopt. There is a lot of talk these days about major collisions that have occurred, capsizes and drownings. The human factor is often important in these events, ”says the spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Catherine Bernard.
According to Transport Canada’s boating safety guide, “every occupant is required to have a personal flotation device (PFD) adapted to their size, inside any type of boat. It is not mandatory to wear the flotation device, but it is strongly recommended to do so, “it could save your life”.
Transport Canada statistics show that approximately 90% of people who drown in accidents were not wearing a lifejacket.
Even there is a life jacket or PFD on board the boat, conditions such as high winds, large waves and cold water can make it very difficult or impossible to put on. a life jacket. In addition, if a person falls into the water by accident, the boat where the lifejacket is located can move away quickly.
Operating a pleasure craft without a proper size PFD or life jacket on board for each person is subject to a $200 fine, plus $100 for each missing life jacket.
Alcohol on board
It is recommended not to consume alcohol on board a boat. Boaters who consume alcohol greatly increase the risk of death or injury.
“At the driver’s level, you can’t consume too much alcohol when driving a watercraft as much as in a vehicle. The Criminal Code applies in the same way,” says Ms. Bernard.
Driving a boat while impaired, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving a boat that is not seaworthy are considered criminal acts.
“There are no restrictions for passenger consumption in Quebec, compared to other Canadian provinces. It is not forbidden to consume alcohol on board a boat, however it is not recommended,” explains Sergeant Bernard. She says alcohol consumption is part of “the human factor” that leads to crashes and other sad events.
Convictions for a first impaired driving offense can result in fines, disqualification from operating a boat or motor vehicle, seizure of the boat for a specified period, and possible jail time.
The operator of a boat must be vigilant and attentive to his surroundings. To avoid any accident, he must watch the body of water, be attentive to his surroundings and not only other motor boats, but also the presence of swimmers, canoes, paddle boards or navigational hazards such as the shoals. The driver must also have a speed adapted to the circumstances in order to have time to react to make the right manoeuvre.
Before leaving, Transport Canada’s boating safety guide advises, among other things, to inform someone of the planned route and to have a map of the bodies of water with you in case the technology is lacking. It is important to check the weather before leaving and to have a first aid kit as well as the necessary to prevent dehydration, heatstroke and hypothermia.