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Planning to travel for Labor Day weekend? Here are important safety tips to remember.

If you're planning to hit the road this Labor Day weekend, make sure you do it safely.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Planning to travel for Labor Day weekend? Make sure you stay safe and remember to mask up.

Are you hitting the road?

To accommodate higher-than-normal amounts of traffic, ALDOT will have no temporary lane closures on Alabama interstates after noon on Friday, September 4 through midnight on Monday, September 7. Cities and counties may still have road or lane closures, depending on current projects, so remain alert for road signs and workers.

Don’t forget your mask. 

  • Governor Kay Ivey has extended the current Safer at Home order and statewide mask ordinance until Friday, Oct. 2, to combat the spread of COVID-19. Everyone is encouraged to use personal protective equipment and practice social distancing when out in public.

RELATED: Labor Day, In-person learning could lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases

Drive sober or get pulled over.

During this final week of the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled" campaign, ALEA Troopers will be conducting sobriety and driver license checkpoints, speed and seat-belt enforcement details and maximizing efforts to remove impaired individuals from behind the wheels of vehicles and boats (or other water vessels).  

Don’t drive or boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to ALDOT, people are seven times more likely to die in a crash when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as shown in ALDOT crash reports. Designating a sober driver before drinking is key to preventing these deadly crashes.

Wear your seat belt, in both front and rear seats, and wear it properly.

Alabama law now requires all occupants of a vehicle to wear a seat belt.

Surviving a crash is much more likely when wearing a seat belt. Latest stats from Drive Safe Alabama show that almost 60 percent of people dying in crashes on Alabama highways are not wearing a seat belt.

Obey the traffic laws, including speed limits.

Avoid speeding, following too closely and other dangerous behaviors on roadways and waterways.

Don't text and drive.

All distractions endanger driver, passenger and bystander safety. Here are some ways to reduce the risk:

  • Put your phone in the back seat to help avoid temptation to respond to text messages.
  • Stop safely or pull off the road to do anything that involves taking your eyes or attention off the road.
  • Use a hands-free device to talk on the phone while operating a motor vehicle.

Stay off the water during inclement weather.

  •  Monitor local weather and avoid going out when the forecast predicts thunder and lightning.

On waterways, use personal flotation devices (PFDs).

  •  They should always be available to all passengers, but the law requires children 8 and younger to wear them.

Use caution when traveling through construction zones.

  •  For the safety of the traveling public, construction industry workers and maintenance crews, ALDOT will suspend temporary lane closures on interstates (and possibly other highways) from noon Friday, Sept. 4, to midnight Monday, Sept. 7.

RELATED: WATCH: Police SUV struck by distracted motorist, officer dodges injury

RELATED: Move over for first responders


Before You Leave, Check This Out