MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDNews) — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is asking drivers and boaters to make safety a priority as Labor Day weekend combines the final stretch of summer travel with the start of football season.
According to ALEA, troopers and special agents will increase enforcement and safety efforts on highways and waterways throughout the extended holiday weekend.
“Labor Day weekend brings together two traditions Alabamians love, enjoying the final days of summer and the excitement of football season,” ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said. “Wherever your plans take you, make sure getting home safely is part of them. Slow down, buckle up, put the phone away and never drive or operate a vessel impaired. We want everyone to enjoy the weekend but remember: the most important drive is the one that gets you home.”
ALEA is urging people to designate a sober driver before celebrations begin, buckle up on every trip and put their phones down while driving.
Drivers should also expect increased traffic before and after football games and along routes to popular recreation areas. ALEA recommends leaving early, allowing extra travel time and following directions from officers working traffic details.
For those heading to Alabama’s waterways, ALEA recommends wearing a life jacket, checking vessels before leaving the dock and making sure required safety equipment is on board. Boat and personal watercraft operators should also meet the state’s age, licensing and supervision requirements.
ALEA’s Department of Public Safety will increase its presence during the holiday travel period, with Highway Patrol and Marine Patrol troopers conducting enforcement and safety initiatives across Alabama.
“Labor Day is traditionally a busy travel weekend, and adding the excitement of football season means thousands of motorists will be sharing Alabama’s roadways while many families are also enjoying our waterways,” DPS Director Col. Jonathan Archer said. “Our Troopers will be visible, but enforcement is only one piece of the safety equation. Every driver, passenger and boater has a role. Before you pull onto the highway, leave the dock or head home after the game, make the decision that gets everyone there safely.”
ALEA is also pointing to last year’s Labor Day travel period as a reminder of the potential consequences.
Between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, 2025, ALEA troopers investigated 371 traffic crashes that resulted in 147 injuries and six deaths across Alabama.
According to ALEA, three of those killed were riding a motorcycle, ATV or electric bicycle, and none was wearing a helmet. The other three people killed were in passenger vehicles, and only one was properly restrained by a seat belt.
During the same four-day period, Highway Patrol troopers made 33 DUI arrests and issued 2,324 speeding citations and 473 citations for seat belt violations.
Marine Patrol troopers investigated three boating incidents that resulted in four injuries, conducted 310 vessel inspections and made one arrest for boating under the influence. ALEA reported no boating deaths or drownings during the 2025 holiday period.
“Those numbers are more than statistics. They represent lives changed, families impacted and reminders of why individual choices matter,” Taylor said.
ALEA is asking Alabamians to “Wrap Up Summer Safely. Kick Off Fall on the Right Foot.”
