MEMORIAL DAY SIGNALS START OF BOATING SEASON

Many of the more than 47 million Americans who boat for fun and relaxation will head to the nearest river or lake this weekend, the traditional Memorial Day start of the boating season.

But with floodwaters in Missouri and Illinois and forecasts for thunderstorms and possible flash flooding, boaters are urged to be even more cautious this year.

"All of the smaller streams are full," said Gary Newcomb of the regional Cape Girardeau office of the Missouri Department of Conservation. "The ground is already saturated and flash floods are more apt to happen."

As the first major summer holiday, Memorial Day weekend means "a lot of boats will be on the water," Newcomb said.

Aside from the flooding threat, boaters this year also face new boating regulations -- including a new night speed limit -- courtesy of the Missouri Legislature and Gov. Mel Carnahan.

The new after-dark speed limit is 30 miles per hour for boaters on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and on lakes with an aggregate shoreline in that exceeds 160 miles.

These lakes include Wappapello in Southeast Missouri, Lake of the Ozarks, Truman Lake, Mark Twain, Table Rock and Smithville.

The new speed limit will be in effect from sunset to sunrise.

The Missouri State Water Patrol says excessive speed limits are blamed for many of nighttime boating accidents.

Other new state regulations prohibit operating self-propelled, "jet ski" vehicles recklessly and bar persons under the age of 14 from operating a boat or jet ski, unless accompanied by someone 16 or older.

The state regulation also imposes new noise restrictions on boats manufactured after Jan. 1, 1996.

Also in effect is a new federal law requiring all recreational vessels to carry personal flotation devices for each passenger.

Most boating fatalities, say water patrol officials, result from people falling overboard when a boat capsizes.

A total of 394 boating accidents were reported in Missouri in 1994, resulting in 17 deaths and 222 people injured. Four boating fatalities already have been reported in the state this year.

Seventeen persons also died in boating accidents in Illinois last year. A total of 157 boating accidents were reported in Illinois.

Most of the Illinois accidents last year occurred during daylight hours on clear days with light wind. Three of the fatalities involved alcohol abuse.

Conservation and water patrol authorities have increased their enforcement of the law prohibiting boat operation while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Like automobile drivers, boat operators are considered legally intoxicated when they have a blood alcohol content of .10 or greater.

Nationally, more than 1,200 people die in boating accidents each year, according to a report issued by the Missouri Department of Public Safety. More than 50 percent of the fatal boat accidents involved alcohol.

Many people say driving a car is more dangerous than operating a boat. But water patrol officials point out that water doesn't have lane markings and turn signals.

Cpl. Charles Bent of the Missouri State Water Patrol said "it's a free-for-all, and there's no way to know what the other driver is going to do."