How safe is boating in Mississippi? Here’s what a new study says
School is wrapping up for the summer and that means boating season in Mississippi will soon be in full swing.
A new ranking by BoatBooker — an online platform for booking recreational boat tours, fishing charters and water avengers — found that Mississippi ranks among the safest states in the country for boating.
But that’s no reason to let your guard down. Here’s what to know about boating in the Magnolia State and how to stay safe on the water this summer.
Mississippi boating safety
The Magnolia State has the lowest boating fatality rate in the country and is the second-safest state overall, according to BoatBooker.
Here’s how many crashes, injuries and fatalities involving boats have been recorded in the state, according to BoatBooker data:
- Crashes: 15.19 per capita
- Injuries: 9.12 per capita
- Fatalities: 0.76 per capita
Which states are the safest for boating?
These are the top 10 safest states for boating, according to the study by BoatBooker:
1. Minnesota
2. Mississippi
3. Iowa
4. Nebraska
5. Ohio
6. Indiana
7. Kansas
8. Michigan
9. Wisconsin
10. South Dakota
Which states are the most dangerous for boating?
These are the 10 states with the highest overall risk when it comes to boating, according to the study by BoatBooker:
1. Nevada
2. Utah
3. New Mexico
4. Colorado
5. Alaska
6. California
7. Arizona
8. Rhode Island
9. Florida
10. Massachusetts
Mississippi boating safety tips
Here are some safety tips for the boating season in Mississippi, according to Farm Bureau Insurance:
- Never operate a boat or watercraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Make sure your watercraft has a horn or other sound-device
- Never drive a boat at night without lights
- Turn off your engine and anything electrical while fueling
- Maintain a safe speed and distance from other vessels
- Keep to the right when you meet another boat head-on
- Don’t boat in shallow water
- Don’t ride another boat’s wake
- Don’t overload your boat with passengers or weight
- Carry visual distress signals on your boat in case you need to call for help
- Provide a 100-food space cushion for all water sports
- Carry your boat insurance with you
How did BoatBooker conduct ranking?
Analysts at BoatBooker looked at state-level data from the 2024 USCG Recreational Boating Statistics report to calculate accident, death and injury rates per 100,000 registered recreational vehicles for each of the 50 states, according to the study.
