Labor Day weekend is normally the last big weekend of the summer beach season in Volusia County, but crowds were not as big as expected on Friday at the Daytona Beach Pier.

Channel 9's Blaine Tolison checked to see if the beaches were ready for their last big summer weekend.

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer on the beach and so far has been a successful one with changes like one-way driving making a positive impact.

Officials attribute that new rule as well as the added no parking zones in crowded sections of the beach, like Sun Splash Park in Daytona Beach.

More public awareness has also been key. Drivers can't text and they must have their windows down.

All of this, they believe, has resulted in no serious accidents this summer, such as when two toddlers were run over and killed a few years back.

Beach patrol expects the beaches to be very busy and they're asking beach-goers to check both beach and driving conditions before heading out.

"We are expecting big crowds this weekend, so we are fully staffed and we will have a lot more lifeguard towers Saturday, Sunday and Monday. So if you do come to the beach, get here are early for easy access and parking," said Capt. Tammy Marris of Volusia County Beach Patrol.

This weekend, surf reports show the waves only one to two feet, but there will be some rip currents and there are some drop-offs from sandbars in the water created by the recent storms.

Lifeguards said no matter what, swim near an open lifeguard tower.