My wife and kids went out on Lake Austin last Thursday with some family members. When I asked my wife how it went, she told me it was dangerous and that someone was going to get seriously hurt. With Lake Travis being so low that it is almost unusable, there are too many boaters and too many big boats now using Lake Austin.

Sadly, her fears came through this weekend. A boat wreck occurred Saturday, near Mt. Bonnell, sending two young children and others to the hospital. Cody Painter, the driver of one of the boats, has been arrested for intoxication assault.

As traffic on the lake increases, boaters need to take action to protect themselves and others. At a minimum you should,

1. Don't drink and drive. This should go without saying, but a significant percentage of boating accidents involves alcohol.

2. Use your lights. Austin Lake Police have indicated that one of the biggest risks of danger is night time collisions.

3. Wear your life vest. I remember when I was a kid and my dad lived on Lake Austin. I couldn't wait until I turned 14 so that I didn't have to wear a life vest in the boat. That was a bad idea. The Centers for Disease Control has even devoted its 2009 Safe Boating Campaign to encourage everyone in boats to wear a life vest at all times.

4. Look out for others. As the lake crowds increase, make sure you are cognizant of other skiiers, tubers and wakeboarders. And always remember that as you follow, they could fall in an instant. On the other hand, when you voluntarily stop to get in and out of the water, make sure that you are doing so in as safe a place as possible.

If any of you have any more tips, please feel free to share them. Everyone that uses the lake has a responsibility to help keep it safe.