Boating Safety: New speed restrictions begin

New speed restrictions along a busy stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway are now in effect after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) updated signage.

The new slow-speed, minimum-wake zone covers the section of the Intracoastal between the Oakland Park Boulevard Bridge and the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge, just west of Fort Lauderdale Beach. The change aims to reduce congestion and improve safety in one of South Florida's most heavily trafficked boating corridors. Slow speed is usually considered to be between 5 and 9 miles per hour.

Now that the updated signs have been installed, FWC is implementing a 30-day educational period where violations will result in warnings.

The City of Fort Lauderdale has been advocating this change for months. In August of last year, a teenager was killed while riding a personal watercraft on the Intracoastal Waterway. Since then, city leaders have worked tirelessly to come up with ways to improve safety, and support the changes made by FWC.

The City's Marine Advisory Board and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department have expressed strong support for regulating vessel speeds, emphasizing the need to address public safety concerns in this area.

The City of Fort Lauderdale reminds all boaters to follow posted speed limits, stay alert and help keep the waterways safe for everyone.