NC Wildlife Commission urges safe boating ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — As Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start of summer travel and boating season, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding residents and visitors to stay safe on the water and avoid operating boats or vehicles while impaired.
The agency is promoting its annual “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign, a statewide public safety effort aimed at reducing alcohol- and drug-related incidents during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
According to the commission, boating fatalities have increased despite an overall decline in reported boating incidents in recent years.
“While the overall number of boating incidents investigated has been declining in recent years, last year we saw a troubling rise in fatal boating incidents,” said Lt. Anna Barbosa in a statement. “Our goal is for everyone to enjoy their day on the water and return home safely.”
Barbosa encouraged boaters to designate a sober operator if alcohol is involved and stressed the importance of wearing life jackets.
The commission reported that 26 boating incidents have already been investigated in North Carolina in 2026. Five of those incidents were fatal, resulting in five deaths. Alcohol was a factor in three of the fatal incidents.
In 2025, North Carolina saw 138 reported boating incidents, a 9.2% decrease from the previous year. However, fatal incidents rose sharply, with 25 fatal accidents leading to 26 deaths — a 66% increase from the year before. Officials said only six victims involved in those fatal incidents were reported to have been wearing personal flotation devices, commonly known as life jackets.
The campaign also coincides with National Safe Boating Week, which runs May 16–22. The week included a kickoff event and the “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work” social media campaign on May 15.
More information about boating safety is available through the Wildlife Resources Commission’s boating safety resources.
