Lifejackets focus of new WA boating safety campaign

The importance of wearing a lifejacket while boating will continue to be reinforced and boaties will learn how to service the life-saving devices in a new safety campaign.

Make a difference – maintain and wear your lifejacket continues work to change boating behaviour in WA and reduce the number of boating related deaths in WA.

The campaign builds on the success of the Department of Transport’s (DoT) Old4New lifejacket replacement program launched in 2016 in partnership with the Royal Lifesaving Society of Western Australia, that saw more than 5,000 old damaged or obsolete lifejackets removed from recreational vessels throughout WA and replaced with new, easy to wear inflatable lifejackets.

Department of Transport A/ Director Waterways Safety Management Laurence Adams said in an emergency wearing a lifejacket gives extra time to raise the alarm and assists survival in the water.

In the nearly five years from July 2015 there have been 34 recreational boating deaths in WA. However, incident investigations have revealed 25 deaths, or 73 per cent, may have been avoided if the person had been wearing a lifejacket.

Recent data shows overall WA averages six boating related deaths a year.

"This latest initiative continues the important work over many years to make it automatic for people to put on a lifejacket when going boating," Mr Adams said.

As part of the new campaign boaties will be able to participate in special clinics to learn how to maintain a new generation inflatable lifejacket and vouchers are available to assist with the cost of servicing or replacing a lifejacket when required.

"DoT will deliver the campaign with the valued assistance of 30 retail partners throughout WA who must be acknowledged for their commitment to the promotion of boating safety."

People can visit www.transport.wa.gov.au/makeadifference for future clinic venues and guidelines outlining limits and requirements for participants.

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au