MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will increase its presence on Alabama highways and waterways during the extended Labor Day weekend. Troopers and special agents will also monitor routes leading to college campuses, stadiums, and popular recreation areas.

ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor urged drivers and boaters to plan for a safe trip home. He asked travelers to slow down, buckle up, avoid distractions, and never operate a vehicle or boat while impaired.

“Wherever your plans take you, make sure getting home safely is part of them,” Taylor said. He called the trip home “the most important drive” of the weekend.

ALEA Outlines Safety Steps for Travelers

ALEA recommends choosing a sober driver before celebrations or game-day activities begin. Everyone in a vehicle should wear a seat belt, while children should use the proper safety seat.

Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and ATV riders should wear helmets and other protective equipment. Drivers should put away their phones and watch for pedestrians, motorcycles, emergency crews, and changing traffic.

Officials also expect heavier traffic around football games and recreation areas. Travelers should leave early, allow extra time, and follow directions from officers managing traffic.

Boaters should wear life jackets and inspect their vessels before leaving the dock. Required safety equipment should remain onboard and easy to reach. Operators must also follow Alabama’s age, licensing, and supervision requirements.

The Department of Public Safety will deploy Highway Patrol and Marine Patrol troopers across the state. DPS Director Col. Jonathan Archer said enforcement remains only one part of keeping people safe.

“Every driver, passenger and boater has a role,” Archer said.

Six People Died During 2025 Labor Day Period

ALEA’s latest warning follows a deadly Labor Day travel period last year. Troopers investigated 371 crashes from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, 2025. Those crashes caused 147 injuries and six deaths.

Three people killed were riding a motorcycle, ATV, or electric bicycle. None wore a helmet. Of the three people killed in passenger vehicles, only one wore a seat belt.

During the same period, troopers made 33 DUI arrests. They also issued 2,324 speeding citations and 473 seat belt citations.

Marine Patrol troopers investigated three boating incidents that injured four people. They conducted 310 vessel inspections and made one boating-under-the-influence arrest. The state recorded no boating deaths or drownings during the holiday period.

The Labor Day effort closes ALEA’s annual 101 Days of Summer Safety campaign, which began Memorial Day weekend. ALEA says drivers and boaters should make safe choices before they leave home and throughout every trip.