Officials caution Alabamians to boat safely over Memorial Day after deadly 2019
Marty RoneyALEXANDER CITY — The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and the unofficial beginning of boating season in the state.
The holiday period stretches from Friday through midnight Monday, and officials expect a busy time on the state’s waterways. Lake Martin is expected to be crowded, but the impact of the coronavirus may play a role in the numbers of boats on the lake and other state waterways.
“Usually, Memorial Day is the first big weekend,” said Alabama State Trooper Lt. Mark Fuller, of the Marine Police Division. “People have been cooped up, schools are just letting out. But this year is different. We’ve had a lot of traffic (on Lake Martin) from late March through April, so we expect Memorial Day weekend won’t be quite as busy as it normally is.”
Fuller stressed boating safety as paramount. And you don’t have to look back far to be reminded why. In 2019 the state recorded one of its most deadly years on the water since 1998, with 30 boating-related fatalities. The tally included six deaths over the Independence Day period, including two fatalities on Lake Jordan.
In 1998 there were 32 fatalities, compared to 17 in 2018 and 19 in 2017. The deadliest year was 1972, with 55 fatalities, state figures show.
There will be more Marine Police patrols out on the water for the Memorial Day period.
“We hope everyone is courteous, uses common sense and doesn’t operate a vessel while using alcohol,” Fuller said. “We stress having a designated operator, someone who will not be drinking. It’s really anyone’s guess as to what causes boating accidents, but alcohol is a contributing factor in many.
“Accidents are usually a result of human error.”
Randy Little, of Prattville, plans on spending a big part of the weekend on the water, either the Alabama River or Lake Jordan. He was laying in supplies and getting the family pontoon boat ready to go earlier in the week.
“It’s just like everything else,” he said. “You can do your part, and all it takes is for someone else not to do their part. We enjoy going out on the holiday, but it can be stressful, just because so many boats will be out there.
“We’ll be in before dark on the days we do go out. I just don’t think it’s worth the risk with all the traffic that’s going to be out there.”
Of course this year the coronavirus has thrown a wild card into the holiday revelry mix.
Fuller said the required 6 feet of separation for social distancing will be in effect on boats.
“You may have to change plans,” he said of the number of passengers on a boat. “If your pontoon has a capacity of 12 to 15 people, that really can’t happen under social distancing guidelines. You are still going to have to have that separation.”
And that goes for holiday gatherings ashore as well, said Dr. Rachel Lee, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital.
“We have to judge high risk versus low risk,” she said. “I think one of the higher risk things is being in small contained spaces with large numbers of people. So if we want to celebrate with people, that would be the No. 1 thing to take off the list.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have a party in our house with 50 other people.”
This year, the official holiday travel period begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, and concludes at midnight Monday. During the four-day period, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will assign all available Troopers from ALEA’s Highway Patrol and Marine Patrol Divisions to patrol roadways and bodies of water across the state. In addition to regular holiday patrol and enforcement activities, Troopers will be available to assist motorists and boaters in distress.
Travel safety tips
ALEA offers the following safety tips for the upcoming extended holiday weekend:
On the road
- Buckle up — no matter how short the trip. (Even back-seat occupants must use seat belts or child restraints.)
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol/drugs. (Select a designated driver in advance or plan to use a ride-share service.)
- Do not drive while distracted. (Distractions are not limited to texting. The list includes passengers, radio, food and other items or activities that take your focus off driving.)
- Mind your speed. Speed limits are set for a reason.
- Expect traffic congestion, particularly along popular routes to the beach or lake. (Leave early if you must arrive by a specific time.)
On the water
- Make it a habit each time to check the boat’s safety equipment before departing.
- Do not boat under the influence of alcohol/drugs. (Select a designated driver beforehand.)
- Have a personal flotation device (PFD) on board for each person on your boat. Children 7 and younger must wear PFDs at all times. (Make sure PFDs are in good condition, sized for intended individuals and U.S. Coast Guard-approved.)
- Be courteous and cautious. Know the rules of the water, including what to do in a head-to-head meeting, who has the right of way and other regulations.
- When boating at night, make sure required navigation lights are on and in good working order. Operate at slower speeds, and don’t venture into unfamiliar territory.
- Give other boaters plenty of room. Don’t operate too close to private docks or the shoreline, and give skiers and swimmers a wide berth.
- Never overload a vessel. Follow the capacity plate guidelines.
In addition, it is important to adhere to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s safety guidelines designed to combat the spread of COVID-19. ALEA urges everyone to practice social distancing and leave at least a 6 foot distance between individuals from different households while visiting beaches, lakes, parks and other public locations.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.