The state Highway Patrol will use increased troopers and monitor areas where fireworks are planned over the July 4 holiday weekend.
Sergeant Eric Shaberg said troopers will use laser guns on major highways to enforce speed limits and will have heavy patrols and checkpoints at fireworks shows — Saturday at Lake Gaston and Weldon and Sunday at Halifax and Hobgood.
AAA report
Holiday travel in North Carolina for the July 4th weekend will increase 12 percent this year due to pent-up travel demand and increased consumer confidence, according to AAA Carolinas.
Typically, increased traffic leads to increased traffic crashes and fatalities. There were 20 traffic fatalities on North Carolina roads during last year’s July 4th weekend, up from 14 for the same time period in 2008.
“Motorists need to be extra careful as July 4th has been rated by traffic safety experts as the most dangerous day for traffic fatalities nationally and six of the state’s traffic deaths last year involved alcohol,” said Parsons. “Avoid drunk, drowsy and distracted driving to help protect against on-road tragedies.”
Approximately 930,000 North Carolinians are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home with roughly 844,000 motorists likely to travel by automobile for their vacation transportation, according to AAA Carolinas.
“Gas prices are stable compared to last year,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “A lot of people chose not to take an extended July 4th vacation last year and this year are showing increased economic optimism.”
North and South Carolina motorists have requested nearly 115,000 personalized routes from AAA’s mapping services since Memorial Day, compared to more than 97,000 last year, a rise of 17.5 percent.
Air travel is expected to increase 3.8 percent from last year to approximately 37,500. Limited capacity, higher prices and security hassles continue to make flying a less attractive transportation method for many Carolinians. Independence weekend air travel had averaged 86,000 fliers in North Carolina this decade prior to the 2008 economic meltdown. The average roundtrip airfare from NC gateways is $237, compared with a nationwide average of $192.
Hotel bookings and airline ticket sales are more than 50 percent greater than last year, reported AAA Vacations, the largest leisure travel agency in the Carolinas. Tour companies and cruise lines that partner with AAA are also experiencing double-digit growth over last year.
Gasoline prices in North Carolina are $2.627, down nearly 25 cents since a peak on May 7, 2010 and roughly two cents a gallon higher than this time last year. South Carolina gas prices are up six cents from last year and nationwide averages are up 12 cents from June 29, 2009. Prices fell on the heels of the European financial crisis and have fluctuated only slightly in the last week.
The most expensive gas in the state is in Boone at $2.687 for a gallon of regular unleaded while Winston-Salem benefits from the cheapest gas prices averaging $2.577 in the area.
The most popular destinations for North Carolina travelers are Myrtle Beach, Washington, Atlanta, Charleston and Charlotte, according to AAA Carolinas. Carolinians are paying an average $118 for a night at a hotel, compared with a nationwide average of $143.
AAA Carolinas has received several hundred comments from travelers worried about the condition of beaches along the Gulf Coast of Florida. Partnering with other AAA clubs, AAA Carolinas has launched a beach guarantee program allowing clients to book vacations with a full refund if a nearby beach becomes closed due to the oil spill.
State and local law enforcement officers will be out in force over the Fourth of July holiday as part of the “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign. Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will be conducted all week across the state to remove impaired drivers from the road. In 2009, officers charged more than 1,300 North Carolina motorists with driving while impaired over the July 4th weekend.
More than 10,000 motorists called AAA for roadside assistance during the holiday weekend last year. AAA encourages motorists to get their cars checked before heading out for a long road trip. Last year, AAA Car Care Centers performed 3,500 oil changes the week leading into July 4th weekend, an increase of 45 percent over the previous week. In a similar comparison, the Car Care Centers serviced 340 air conditioning systems, up 16 percent and repaired 780 brake systems, up 26 percent.
The NC Department of Transportation reports when stretches of road will have lane closures for construction. Motorists are encouraged to avoid using these routes if possible to ease congestion. Interstate 40 in Western NC is expected to continue to experience congestion as one eastbound lane is still closed from the rockslide. AAA encourages motorists to check with DOT before any trip to check for any traffic advisories.
Motorists taking a trip can budget estimated gas costs for their personal vehicles on www.fuelcostcalculator.com. By entering origin, destination, make and model of their vehicle, motorists receive the estimated gasoline cost for their trip.
Motorists seeking the cheapest local gas prices can go to www.aaa.com/fuelfinder. Prices are listed for a 3-, 5- or 10-mile radius of the zip code entered.
