Safety first whether driving or boating

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 parades, traveling, boating and fishing, as well as all the other outdoor summer recreation we enjoy.

It should go without saying that none of that fun should come at the expense of safety, and area law-enforcement agencies will be out in force to ensure the weekend is as safe as it can be. Alaska State Troopers and local police will have beefed-up patrols to concentrate on enforcing the use of seat belts and child restraints, and to help keep drunken drivers off the roads.

Troopers urge all drivers to buckle up, and to make sure their passengers do the same. Child safety car seats should be age- and size-appropriate. They also remind residents that DUI laws - and penalties - are the same whether you're driving or boating.

Memorial Day weekend is part of a statewide law-enforcement initiative called Buckle Up Week, and police and troopers have federally funded overtime to help with the effort. Troopers, Palmer and Wasilla police, and state wildlife enforcement offices are all a part of this.

In addition to regular highway patrols, troopers with the Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement will maintain a presence on state waterways, including Big Lake and various area boat launches, to conduct boating safety and boating registration compliance checks. Troopers will write citations and order boats to return to port if the vessels are not in compliance with boating laws, including regulations regarding personal flotation devices.

Wearing a life jacket on the water should not be an afterthought. Statistically, there's probably nothing better you can do to ensure safe outings. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, in 2004, of the 484 recreational boaters who drowned, 90 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Officials estimate that 431 lives might have been saved if life jackets had been used.

According to troopers, for recreational boats, state law requires that there be an approved PFD, of the proper size, for every person on board, and that children under 13 wear a PFD when they are on deck or in an open boat.

Wildlife enforcement troopers also will do their usual checks on and enforcement of 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.