(Des Moines)– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the number of boating accidents in Iowa has dropped to a five-year low, but a higher percentage resulted in deaths.
As of last week, there were 36 boating accidents so far in 2011. That’s the fewest since at least 2007.
Five people have died in boating accidents, which is double the average. That doesn’t include a boating death on a private lake in Black Hawk county.
Susan Stocker, who oversees boating law issues for the DNR, notes that the state imposed a law on July 1st that reduced the blood alcohol level at which a boater is considered drunk from 0.10 to 0.08.
The DNR has also increased lake patrols at popular spots.
(From the Associated Press.).
