Transport for NSW launched a maritime safety blitz last weekend (27 February) targeting disruptive and dangerous jetski riders following a recent surge in the popularity of the crafts.
Acting Chief Operations Officer with Transport for NSW, Mark Hutchings said the blitz was about ensuring that new jetski riders were aware of the rules on the water.
“Education is key to reducing risk and increasing safety, particularly with the influx of new riders learning to navigate the waterways,” Mr Hutchings said.
He said the operation targeted speed, irregular riding and riders who didn’t keep a safe distance from other boaters, swimmers, and fixed objects.
Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance said the COVID-19 pandemic had seen a 92 per cent spike in new jetski licences.
“Since May we’ve seen more than 9,076 new jetski licences issued, that’s up more than 90 per cent for the same period in the previous year,” Mr Constance said.
“We understand riding a jetski is a lot of fun, but we’ve also got a lot of new riders out on the water and we need to make sure it’s a safe place for everyone,” he said.
“We’ve seen some really disruptive and dangerous behaviour from jetski riders recently.”
Mr Constance said boating rules were designed to keep everyone safe and that any unsafe behaviour could put others at risk.
