AAA expecting record number of travelers for the Memorial Day weekend
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – While rain may be interrupting some Memorial Day plans across south-central Kentucky, millions of Americans are still expected to travel for the holiday weekend.
Memorial Day is historically one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and this year is expected to bring record numbers of people to the roads and airports.
Travel experts are encouraging drivers to plan ahead, check weather conditions, and leave early to avoid heavy traffic. Air travelers are also being urged to arrive at the airport early and monitor flight updates as weather could cause delays across the country.
“We’re expecting a record amount of people who are actually going to be out traveling, you know, somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 million Americans going 50 miles or more away from home, you’re going to want to give yourself plenty of time. You’re going to want to give yourself plenty of extra time to get out the door in case you have any issues with traffic whatsoever, so that you’re not running late and you’re not clouding your judgment because you’re stressed out and then potentially taking dangerous maneuvers or unsafe behaviors behind the wheel,” said Jim Garrity, director of Public Affair for AAA East Central.
The cost of crude oil has also risen sharply, driving up prices at the gas pump and increasing the cost of air travel. While many vacationers may see higher airfares this holiday weekend, experts say there are still ways drivers can save money on the road.
“Go slower, take your time, because when you make the car work harder, you’re making the fuel economy decrease. And also make sure you don’t ignore any check engine lights, you’re lightening the load in the vehicle, you’re you’re taking advantage of fuel savings programs whenever you can. If you’re AAA member download the Auto Club app because you can actually use that to find the least expensive gasoline near you. There’s many things you can do that add up over time to help offset those costs,” Garrity said.
AAA says it’s also seeing a concerning trend during holiday travel periods, an increase in impaired driving cases.
Garrity says anyone planning to drink should have a plan in place before heading out.
