During the 2023 four-day Labor Day Weekend, Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) investigated eight traffic-related fatalities, compared to 10 in 2022, and experienced zero marine-related fatalities on Alabama’s waterways.

This year’s Labor Day weekend travel period began at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, and ended at midnight Monday, Sept. 4. During that time, there were eight deadly traffic crashes in Montgomery, Marion, Marshall, Cullman, Washington, Randolph, Tuscaloosa and Lawrence
counties.

Of the eight fatalities, four individuals were not using seat belts, and the fifth involved an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) where the individual was not using restraints. The sixth fatality involved a motorcycle where the operator was using a helmet; in the seventh, the individual was using a seat belt; and in the eighth, it was unable to be determined if the individual was using a seat belt at the time of crash.

Thankfully on the water, Troopers within ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division did not investigate any marine-related fatalities. However, the four-day period did include three boating crashes with one minor injury reported. Two of the incidents occurred on Logan Martin Lake and one on Smith Lake. This past Labor Day weekend marked two summers in a row that the Agency has not experienced any marine-related fatalities during the three major holiday weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.

“Our Marine Patrol Division works diligently to take every opportunity to educate the public whether it is during a patrol stop, vessel check or at a public safety event. They have done an outstanding job educating and patrolling the waterways during the busiest weekends of the year; however, this success would not be possible without the assistance and care of each boater. We hope this trend continues each year and we encourage parents to also educate their teens on water and boating safety, as many will obtain their vessel license along with their Alabama Driver License,” Secretary Taylor said. Additionally, ALEA’s Aviation Unit partnered with the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach once more to patrol beaches from the air and to assist with rescuing swimmers in distress as well as other incidents. During the extended weekend, ALEA pilots responded to assist two swimmers and performed approximately 10 beach safety flights.