7/5/14 - Many local residents will take to the lakes over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and officials remind boaters to keep safety as a priority. Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphy tells WHMI some common-sense rules should be followed while spending time on the water, such as avoiding alcohol when operating a boat, not going to fast near other watercraft, having enough personal floatation devices for everyone on board, and keeping oars and rope on board in case the motor dies. Murphy says those on jet-skis should also pay close attention to traffic, including boats and other jet-skis. He adds that the law states boats should travel counter-clockwise around lakes rather than cutting straight across to their destination, which provides a smooth flow of traffic around the body of water. The leading contributing factors of boating fatalities in 2013 included alcohol use, excessive speed, and operator inattention and inexperience. (TD/JK)
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