ATLANTA - Despite a big media push for safety on Georgia's roads and waterways for Memorial Day, there were actually more deadly crashes on the highways and no real change in BUI citations - particularly on Lake Lanier.
Mark McKinnon with the Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday that state officials know it will take time to change dangerous habits, so the safety messages will continue.
"Everywhere they turn, they're going to see it and hear it, we hope - that people won't drink and drive, that people won't drink and boat, to wear their life jackets on the lake, to wear their seat belts in the car," said McKinnon.
When comparing statistics from Memorial Day 2014 to this year's figures, McKinnon noted that total boating under the influence (BUI) citations dropped for this year - 29 compared to 34 last year. But, the figures for Lake Lanier remained basically the same.
"Eleven BUIs in the Gainesville region this time and we had 12 last year. We had 11 of those last year on Lake Lanier," said McKinnon. "One is too many."
McKinnon pointed out that Memorial Day 2014 was free from fatalities on all Georgia waterways. That was not the case this past weekend, however. A possible drowning occurred in the Calhoun area, although McKinnon said they are awaiting an autopsy to see if that death might have been related to a medical issue. A Lawrenceville man died when he fell from a boat in the Chattahoochee River in Forsyth County.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/5/312724/dnr-safety-messages-may-take-awhile-to-sink-in