By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Warmer weather signals the start of people beginning to pull out their boats and getting them out on the water.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says a main danger to watch out for is debris from flooding.
"You know whether you're out on the Missouri River, out at Big Lake, Smithville Lake, anything like that, debris, you know logs, if the water is high a lot of times you won't be able to see a rock dike out on the Missouri River," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Or anything that's just barely under the water like debris of any sort, so that's always a main thing."
Hux says you should also make sure your boat is properly prepared with a good number of life jackets and the proper safety tools.
With boaters heading back out to the water as the weather becomes warmer, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is helping make sure boats are ready to go.
Hux says Troop H will provide inspections of boats.
"They're making sure that they have applicable life jackets on board, a throwable personal flotation device if that's required," Hux says. "They're checking navigation lights, sounding device, fire extinguisher, just basic safety equipment while they're out there on the water."
Hux says inspections will be provided on May 5th at the Missouri River French Bottom Access at the Remington Nature Center from 9am to 5pm.
More boats on the water also means drivers will see more boats on the highways as they travel to and from the lake or river.
Hux says before you travel with your boat you should make sure your trailers are in good working condition.
"A lot of times what we see on that, we have tires, blowouts, wheel barring's go out, so just some safety measures there," Hux explains. "So just some safety measures there, cause if you blow a tire on a trailer that thing is going to start fishtailing back and forth and that does lead to vehicle crashes, so just make sure you're conscious of that."
Hux says you should also make sure turn signals on your trailer are working properly for other drivers that could be trailing you on your way to the water.