Nearly 43 million Americans will start their summers on a high note with a Memorial Day weekend getaway. This long holiday weekend, marking the unofficial start of summer vacation season, will see the second-highest travel volume on record since AAA began tracking holiday travel volumes back in 2000. Overall, an additional 1.5 million more people will take to the nation’s roads, rails and runways compared with last year, a 3.6% increase.
Despite gas prices inching close to the $3 mark, the majority of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations. INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, predicts drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion on Thursday, May 23rd and Friday, May 24th in the late afternoon as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers. Several major U.S. metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip.
AAA expects to be called on to rescue more than 353,000 motorists at the roadside this Memorial Day weekend. Dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble. AAA recommends motorists take their vehicles to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out on a road trip.
Driving/Traveling in Illinois? Remember Scott’s Law! Plenty of attention has been paid to Scott’s law in recent weeks, and this weekend will be no exception. The law requires drivers to slow down and move over one lane, if possible, when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with flashing lights. Violators of Scott’s Law can be fined up to $10,000 and, if injury, death or property damage occurs, enhanced penalties are applied.
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