Operate a personal watercraft or motorboat? Pass the test.

There are more than 250,000 registered motorboats in Virginia, which includes 30,000 personal watercrafts. In the past five years, Virginia has recorded more than 700 recreational boating accidents, resulting in nearly 100 fatalities, according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. PWCs make up almost 10 percent of all registered boats in Virginia and were involved in 22.6 percent of all boating accidents.

“Riding on or driving a personal watercraft can be a lot of fun, but should be taken seriously,” said Jimmy Maass, safety coordinator for Virginia Farm Bureau. “The machines are very powerful and therefore, very dangerous. Hopefully the boater safety course will educate operators and will decrease the amount of accidents.”

The Virginia General Assembly passed a law in 2007 that requires Virginia boaters to pass a boater safety course. The course is six to eight hours and can be taken online or in the classroom by VDGIF. The law is being implemented in phases according to age category and the type of boat being operated.

For more information visit dgif.virginia.gov/boating/pwc for frequently asked questions or contact the Safety Department at 804-290-1376 or safety@farmbureauadvantage.com.

PWC

Age                         Date completed course

14-20 years of age     July 1, 2009

35 and younger         July 1, 2010

50 and younger         July 1, 2011

All ages                    July 1, 2012

Motorboat

Age                         Date completed course

20 and younger         July 1, 2011

30 and younger         July 1, 2012

40 and younger         July 1, 2013

45 and younger         July 1, 2014

50 and younger         July 1, 2015

All ages                    July 1, 2016