Ahead of Memorial Day,
AAA predicts a historic 45.1 million individuals
I will go on a trip during the holiday weekend.
Tiffany Wright, who leads public affairs at AAA, stated that Americans are prepared to hit the road even with rising costs.
She stated, ‘This will be the highest number of travelers we’ve witnessed in two decades,’ adding, ‘People are discovering methods to journey despite increased costs this season, and these expenses won’t deter them.’
AAA predicts that one million additional individuals will opt to drive to their destinations this weekend compared to 2024. The good news for these drivers is that AAA reports gasoline prices are an average of 42 cents less than they were last year.
Wright advised motorists to inspect their cars prior to departure to avoid encountering one of the top three most common problems reported by AAA.
“It’s flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts. Nothing can spoil a holiday road trip more than getting stranded beside the road,” she stated.
If you decide to travel by air during this holiday weekend, you’ll have plenty of company. According to AAA, approximately 3.6 million people will also be flying.
Kim Crafton from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport mentioned that they clearly observe an increase in passenger numbers over Memorial Day.
“Traditionally, during holiday travel periods and weekend trips, we observe a rise in the number of travelers passing through the airport. Typically, at CAE, we handle around 5,000 passengers per day,”Crafton stated.
She mentioned that 2025 is expected to become the airport’s most bustling year yet, largely due to the introduction of two new low-cost airlines starting operations at CAE.
“To witness Allegiant launching services last week on May 15, followed by flights on June 5 and June 6 to Newark, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale with Spirit Airlines, opens up numerous opportunities for our area, and we couldn’t be happier,”Crafton stated.
Back on the roads,
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is poised to launch its “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” initiative.
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Master Trooper William Bennett outlined the rationale for the increased emphasis during the summertime.
“You’re aware that this spans from the Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, and sadly, it’s during this timeframe that we typically observe an uptick in traffic fatalities,” he stated.
Bennett mentioned that driving under the influence was a significant problem during the previous Memorial Day holiday weekend.
“Six people lost their lives, and in three of those cases, drunk drivers were responsible,” Bennet clarified.
During this initiative, drivers will likely encounter a patrol car approximately every 10 miles along the state’s main roadways, with a heightened police visibility also expected on lesser-used streets.
Trooper Bennett along with Wright from AAA advised motorists to reduce their speed and change lanes when they encounter emergency vehicles parked at the side of the road. This applies not only to police officers but also to tow truck operators, as well as staff from both AAA and the SCDOT who provide motorist aid services.
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