This study investigates whether recreational boating safety investments and
behaviours of current interest are determinants of boating injury severity
, and if so, their effects. An ordered probit analysis of 1989-1993 boating
accidents suggests that human capital investments in safety, in the form o
f operator boating experience and formal instruction, reduce both operator
and passenger injury severity. Higher levels of operator (passenger) alcoho
l consumption increase operator (passenger) injury severity, but no relatio
nship was found between operator alcohol consumption and passenger injury s
everity. At the time a trip is taken, wearing a flotation device has the mo
st efficacious effect on both operator and passenger injury severity. In ge
neral, the results support regulatory policies aimed at increasing the use
of personal flotation devices as well as reducing alcohol consumption.