DESPITE making up less than 8 per cent of vessels on the river, jetskiers are now accounting for 36 per cent of boating fines. 

Department of Transport waterways safety management director Chris Mather said there’d been a concerning increase in people on jetskis, aka personal watercraft, attracting infringements in the past five years, going from 19 per cent to 36 per cent. 

“Data for the past two years shows the two most common infringements issued to PWC operators are failure to wear a lifejacket and speeding, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of infringements issued, while 12 per cent were for freestyle riding in a prohibited area,” Mr Mather said in a statement.

It’s prompted a new education campaign warning jetskiers to wear lifejackets and adhere to other safety requirements. 

“Every person on board a PWC must wear a lifejacket at all times to the required standard for the area of operation and adhere to all applicable speed limits, even while operating within dedicated freestyle areas such as the PWC area near the Narrows Bridge on the Swan River.

“While the majority of users comply, there is an increasing number of PWC operators endangering the lives of other water users by flouting the rules and being complacent about safety which is unacceptable and needs to be addressed.”

Information will be targeted where jetskis and accessories are sold, and at boat ramps.