Let the summer begin (safely)!

Another Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and that means the traditional kicking off of all the summer activities Alaskans love. The three days that lie ahead will be filled with barbecues and memories, traveling, boating and fishing, as well as all the other outdoor summer recreation we enjoy.

For many, those activities will involve driving. Despite gasoline prices in the $4 range again, travel and long summer weekends are often hard to separate.

Putting safety first is always a priority. But it is especially important when the volume of traffic is up and others might not be as safety-conscious, as often happens on weekends like this where fun is the focus.

As always, area law-enforcement personnel will be out in force, doing their part to ensure that the weekend is as safe as it can be. Alaska State Troopers and local police can be expected to have beefed-up patrols for drunken drivers and will be sure to be on the lookout as well for proper use of seat belts and child restraints.

Drivers are responsible for making sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up and that child safety seats are age- and size-appropriate.

It is also worth remembering that laws — and penalties — governing driving under the influence are the same whether you are driving or boating.

And speaking of boating, just as with seat belts and child safety seats in cars, life jackets should not be an afterthought on the water. Statistically, there’s nothing better you can do to ensure safe boating than to wear a life jacket.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the vast majority of recreational boaters who drowned were not wearing a life jacket. So the life-saving capacity of a personal flotation device should never be taken for granted.

State law requires that children younger than 13 wear a personal flotation device while on a boat. And there should be a PFD of the proper size for every person on board.

Wildlife enforcement officials will also be out and about this weekend enforcing sport-fish bag limits and fishing equipment requirements. So it is important to know what’s allowed, according to where you fish.

Winter-weary Alaskans know how much fun there is to be had under the midnight sun. Let’s all enjoy the weekend. But let’s be safe, too.