ALEA encourages continued vigilance as 101 Days of Summer Safety Campaign begins
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Special to the News
As the Memorial Day holiday travel period concluded, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is reminding motorists and boaters that the summer travel season is just beginning and urging everyone to prioritize safety during the agency’s annual 101 Days of Summer Safety Campaign.
While many Alabamians enjoyed the long holiday weekend, ALEA troopers responded to several tragic incidents across the state.
During the extended Memorial Day travel period; which began Friday, May 22, and ended on Monday, May 25; troopers assigned to ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division investigated four traffic fatalities, which occurred in Pickens, Colbert, Shelby, and Elmore counties.
Troopers assigned to ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division investigated one boating fatality that occurred on Lake Demopolis in Marengo County.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by these tragic losses,” said ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor. “Each fatality is a heartbreaking reminder that a single decision on the roadway or waterway can have life-altering consequences. As we begin the 101 Days of Summer, we urge everyone to make safety their top priority. Wear your seat belt, avoid distractions, never drive or boat under the influence, and remain vigilant behind the wheel and on the water. Working together, we can help prevent future tragedies and save lives.”
ALEA’s efforts over the Memorial Day weekend included increased patrols, driver license checkpoints and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries.
During the Memorial Day travel period, ALEA troopers in Highway Patrol conducted the following activity:
- 14 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests
- 1,466 speeding citations
- 365 seat belt violation citations
- 42 child restraint violation citations
- 21 citations for following too closely
- 2,953 total citations issued
- 1,356 total warnings issued
ALEA troopers in Marine Patrol also remained active across Alabama’s waterways and conducted the following activity:
- 196 marine-related citations issued
- 604 warnings issued
- 4 Boating Under the Influence (BUI) arrests
- 469 vessel stops
- 31 Boater Assists
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is often referred to nationally as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” because of the increase in travel, traffic crashes and boating activity.
ALEA’s 101 Days of Summer Safety Campaign is designed to combat that trend through enforcement, education and public awareness efforts aimed at keeping Alabama’s roadways and waterways safe.
ALEA will continue conducting high-visibility enforcement and public safety initiatives throughout the summer, focusing on impaired driving, seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and boating safety.
The agency encourages all Alabamians and visitors traveling throughout the state this summer to remain alert, obey traffic and boating laws and help make Alabama’s roadways and waterways safer for everyone.
ALEA offers the following tips for highway safety this summer:
Remain attentive around large vehicles and semi-trucks. Large vehicles such as semitrucks command a heavy presence on interstates. They have limited maneuverability, longer stopping distances and bigger blind spots.
Expect traffic heavier than usual. Adjust travel plans to accommodate busier roadways and waterways and leave a bit earlier. Avoid speeding, following vehicles too closely and other dangerous behaviors on roadways.
Prepare your vehicle. Get your vehicle’s tires, brakes, exterior lights, battery, air filters, wipers, and fluid levels checked before you leave for a trip. Keep an emergency kit available (inflated spare tire, first aid kit, jumper cables, phone charger, etc.).
Avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you plan on consuming alcohol, pre-plan for a designated driver, call Uber or a cab. Designate a sober driver in advance to get you home safely.
Buckle up – no matter how short your trip. Ensure all the vehicle’s occupants are buckled up and children are utilizing a child restraint system. Car seats and boosters provide protection for infants and children in a crash, yet car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13.
Don’t follow other vehicles too closely. “Following too close” is one of the leading contributing factors behind crashes. Maintaining situational awareness and operating under a defensive driving posture is critical in avoiding crashes, especially during high traffic periods.
The agency also offers the following safety tips for boating safety this summer:
Holidays are not the time for novice boaters to learn to operate their crafts. Operator inexperience is one of the leading contributing factors to boating crashes in Alabama. New operators should consider attending an in-person boating-safety class prior to going to the water.
Children younger than age 8 are required to always wear PFDs (unless inside a permanently affixed cabin enclosure). They also should wear PFDs that are the appropriate size.
Be mindful of other boaters. Avoid passing too closely to boats in motion, boats at idle and persons in the water.
Boaters should avoid the use of alcoholic beverages or use the designated operator system. The sun, wind and other weather conditions already produce an effect on boaters known as “boater fatigue,” and the consumption of alcohol only compounds and intensifies the effect.
Avoid boating at night unless familiar with the body of water. Then, operate at a reduced, safe speed. Make sure all navigation lights are in proper working order and displayed properly. Have a cell phone and flashlight on hand in case of emergency.
Inflatable PFDs may not be used by persons at the age of 15 and younger. They also are not approved for use by skiers, persons being towed on tubes or other aqua-planning devices, or for use on personal watercraft.
