Heads up, boaters: New speed restrictions are coming to the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale.

The slower speeds — already approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — are part of an effort to improve safety in one of South Florida’s most heavily trafficked boating corridors, Fort Lauderdale officials say.

The new minimum-wake zone covers the Intracoastal between the Oakland Park Boulevard bridge and the Sunrise Boulevard bridge.

Slow speed is usually considered to be between 5 mph and 9 mph.

The state expects to change the posted speed limit signs in early February.

Speeding boaters will be given warnings for a period of 30 days. The new speed will also apply to personal watercraft, commonly known by the brand name Jet Skis.

Fort Lauderdale has been pushing for the new speed restrictions for months, said Mayor Dean Trantalis.

“Many of the people who live along that area have long complained about the speeding boats and Jet Skis in that area,” he said. “If we can slow down the speed we can improve the safety.”

Fort Lauderdale’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.

“This new zone will have a meaningful impact and create a safer waterway for all,” said Police Chief Bill Schultz.

The new zone connects two idle speed minimum-wake areas near the bridges and overlaps with a seasonal manatee protection zone.

A 13-year-old girl on a family vacation from New York was killed in August while riding a personal watercraft on the Intracoastal Waterway. She and her older sister were on a guided tour. They jumped a wake, lost control and hit a concrete dock.

“That’s the first time we’ve seen a fatality on the water,” the mayor said. “But why should we wait for more accidents to happen before taking the initiative and doing the right thing?”

Not everyone is going to be happy about the new speed zone, predicts John Fiore, who chairs the Broward County Marine Advisory Committee.

“There’s 47,000 registered boats in this county and this is going to mainly affect people with smaller boats,” Fiore said. “People with 60-foot yachts are not opening up their boats and running. It’s the smaller, faster boats that are going to have to slow down and wallow along at 5 miles an hour.”

Fiore questioned the motive behind the new speed zone in that particular section of the Intracoastal.

“They’re saying it’s to make it safer,” Fiore said. “But how many accidents have there been? I think it’s because the people who live there don’t want to hear the noise.”

The current boating speed in that area is now 25 mph, Fiore said.

“We wanted to increase it to 30,” he said of the county’s marine advisory board. “Boats plane better at that speed and the wake decreases. I think it’s going to piss off a lot of boaters because now they’re going to have to wallow for 2 miles at 5 miles an hour.”

Fort Lauderdale requested the slower speed along that section of the Intracoastal because that’s where the city was getting the most complaints, the mayor said.

“Our goal is to make the waterway enjoyment available to everyone, whether you live on the water or enjoy being on the water,” Trantalis said. “We have to seek a proper balance. If people want to speed on the water, that’s what the ocean is for.”

Safety tips for operating a water scooter:

— Wear a life jacket and helmet.

— Know and observe the speed limit.

— Stay away from alcohol. It can impair your judgment and slow your reaction time.

— To avoid a collision, be aware of other boats and vessels sharing the waterway. Stay to the right when approaching an oncoming vessel.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan