It’s the high season for boating, which means you need to practice caution when you’re on the water.

Last year, the Coast Guard tracked 4,064 boating accidents, 610 of which resulted in fatalities.

The numbers are up from the previous year, but it was the second-lowest number of boating fatalities on record.

According to the latest reports, operator inattention is the number one cause of boating accidents, followed by improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol.

Alcohol is the leading contributing cause to fatal accidents.

Now here’s where the numbers get really scary: 78 percent of the fatal victims drowned and, of those, a whopping 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket.

The takeaway here is obvious: Everyone must wear a life jacket appropriate for their size, and avoid anything that will cause impairment.

Look for U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boating safety courses, even if you’re a seasoned boater. Better safe than very sorry.

For more information about boating, check out:

• How You Can Rent A Boat This Summer
• These Boating Apps Can Help You On the Water
• What You Don’t Know About Cell Phones on Boats

Keep reading for more travel tips.