{"id":1679,"date":"2014-02-09T23:42:08","date_gmt":"2014-02-10T04:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/?p=1679"},"modified":"2016-11-19T14:28:29","modified_gmt":"2016-11-19T19:28:29","slug":"the-rules-of-the-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/2014\/02\/09\/the-rules-of-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rules Of The Road"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boaters can set a goal to make their boating activities safer. Traffic laws on the water are established by Federal, State and County boating agencies. The primary agency, United States Coast Guard (U.S.C.G.) refers to the laws as \u201cThe Rules of the Road\u201d and publishes them. Few boaters realize the rules apply to all vessels, pleasure or commercial, and their operators. Perhaps the fact the boating \u201claws\u201d are referred to as \u201crules\u201d make boaters think they can disregard them.<\/p>\n

Automobile drivers know highway traffic laws \u2013 yield, no passing zones, and speed limits. Fewer boat owners understand the rules (laws) on the waterways. Those that do should never assume others know them.<\/p>\n

Dictates in U.S.C.G. publications state, \u201cNo matter who is breaking the rules, every boat operator is responsible to take any necessary action to avoid a collision\u201d. This makes it difficult to know how to respond to “The Rules Of The Road”. Thus, you as the operator of your boat are expected to be responsible for your actions as well as the actions of all boaters you encounter on the water. <\/p>\n