Keeping Our Coastlines and Swimmers Safe
Florida’s waters are a shared paradise. On any given day, our beautiful coastlines are alive with swimmers, paddleboarders, snorkelers, and boaters all enjoying the same sunshine. To keep everyone safe and prevent dangerous conflicts between motorized vessels and people in the water, the Florida Safe Waters Coalition champions The 400 Yards Rule.
The 400 Yards Rule is a vital safety standard designed to create a protective buffer zone along our beaches. It establishes that all motorized vessels must maintain a safe distance of at least 400 yards (four football fields) from the shoreline when operating at cruising or high speeds.
When approaching closer than 400 yards to drop anchor, access a designated boat ramp, or dock, vessels must drop to “Idle Speed, No Wake“—meaning the boat moves at the absolute slowest speed necessary to maintain steerage while producing no visible wake.
A boat traveling at high speeds cannot react quickly enough to a swimmer or snorkeler who is low in the water and difficult to see. Keeping high-speed traffic 400 yards out significantly reduces the risk of catastrophic accidents.
Large wakes generated close to the shore crash heavily against our beaches and seawalls, rapidly eroding our coastline and destroying critical coastal habitats.
Our waters are big enough for everyone. By keeping motorized thrills further out, beachgoers can enjoy peaceful, safe swimming closer to land.
The moment you cross the 400-yard threshold toward the shore, pull back your throttle completely.
Watch intently for swimmers, kayakers, paddleboarders, and divers-down flags.
Ensure your anchor is securely set outside of active swimming zones and never block public beach access points.
We are asking Broward County to make this the law. We hope that other counties will do the same.
Safe boating isn’t just about following the law—it’s about protecting the community we share.
