The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has reported a new record that points to an important trend. Over the Labor Day holiday period, spanning August 29 to September 1, there were zero boating-related deaths reported statewide. According to TN.gov, this marks the fourth year in a row that Tennessee waters have not claimed a life during this traditionally high-traffic period.
While this stretch of safety is certainly to be applauded, the incident reports were not all smooth sailing. There were three reported injuries and five incidents of property damage. The TWRA also had to fully exert to enforce the law by making three boating under the influence (BUI) arrests—each tied to crash investigations.
Overall, this year, the state has witnessed 18 statewide boating-related fatalities. This number is a slight increase from last year, as reported by the TWRA's latest release, indicating that while holiday periods may have seen improvements, there is a broader issue at play. Comparing year to year, 2025 has become more lethal than 2024 by a count of two lives, yet it also sees a small improvement from 2023.
