Pennsylvania Passes New Boating Regulation

Beginning Nov. 1, 2012, boaters will be required to wear life jackets on boats less than 16 feet in length and on canoes and kayaks from Nov. 1 through April 30.

Laurel Anders, director of the Bureau of Boating and Access described the need for the regulation,  “While boating accidents are more frequent during the traditional summer season, the risk of an accident being fatal is significantly higher when the air and water temperatures are colder in late fall through spring,”

She added, “Over the last 15 years, cold-water incidents represented only eight percent of boating-related accidents, but resulted in 24 percent of the fatalities.”