Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages water safety as summer wraps up

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging people to boat safely as the summer season nears an end.

Ahead of Labor Day, the Highway Patrol sent a news release encouraging safety on the water. The holiday is traditionally considered to signal the end of the summer recreation season.

The Highway Patrol asks people to inspect their boats before putting them into the water. That includes fuel lines, checking for hose leaks and testing the battery to ensure it is charged. They also say to turn off the boat when refueling; if left on it could cause a spark, according to the Highway Patrol.

Corporal Brian Geier with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division says one of the biggest problems the Highway Patrol runs into is people carelessly operating a boat out on the water.

"Could be boating while intoxicated, not paying attention to surroundings and striking other boats, things in the water," said Geier. "So, slowing down, not drinking and paying attention to surroundings would be the biggest things to help avoid accidents."

After refueling, the Highway Patrol says to open up the engine compartment to inspect the engine and smell for fuel leaks and start up the boat's blower system for at least four minutes before turning the boat back on.

Highway Patrol asks boaters to be alert for other boats and swimmers, not overload boats with too many people and to make sure there are lifejackets onboard the boat.

Geier says the Highway Patrol makes their presence known on the lake to emphasize safety on the water.

"We try to be as visible as possible, all officers work on the holiday weekends," said Geier. "We try to get to as many calls as we can, just be seen and be there to help the public if they need it."

Smaller boats are told to yield right-of-way to larger boats. The Highway Patrol also reminds people that lifejackets save lives, and to wear them on and near the water. Children under the age of seven must always wear a lifejacket while boating, according to the Water Safety Council of the Lake of the Ozarks.

The Water Safety Council also asks boaters to anchor carefully and be weather aware. They also say to use the engine cut-off lanyard for boats and watercraft 26 feet long or less. According to the council, this will help avoid runaway boat accidents.

Glen Treankler, a cruise captain and member of the Water Council has had some issues out on the water with boaters this summer.

"We get a lot of people who drive right up next to us, not understanding their wake can cause problems for us," said Treankler. "We're a very big boat, but we're flat bottom so we'll rock in the lakes just like any other boat."

Treankler says for first-time boaters, it's important to know the lake, understand how to drive the boat and drive conservatively out on the water.

The Water Council and the Highway Patrol emphasize boaters being sober when driving. The Highway Patrol says the movement of a boat, vibrations, noise and sun exposure can enhance the effects of alcohol on a person's body.

There have been four drownings at the Lake of the Ozarks in 2024, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol's Boating and Drowning incident reports.

In 2023, there were 12 boating crashes with no deaths, according to the Highway Patrol. There were also no drowning deaths during the Labor Day counting period last year.

The Highway Patrol says 10 people were arrested for boating while intoxicated during the 2023 counting period.