AAA Carolinas is reminding holiday travelers that while roads are busiest the last week of December, the holiday season is also when they’re most deadly.
Last year, 56 people died on North Carolina roads during the year-end holiday travel period, defined this year as Saturday, Dec. 22, through New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.
That number of fatalities—just over five per day on average—was 42 percent higher than the number of fatalities the rest of the year.
AAA Carolinas says that holiday travel in North Carolina is expected to increase two percent this travel season, with just under 2.8 million people expected to travel more than 50 miles from their homes. Of those, 90 percent are expected to drive, six percent fly, and four percent travel by train, bus, boat or some other means.
Gas prices in North Carolina are currently $3.23 per gallon on average, down 62 cents since peaking in mid-September and eight cents from pre-Thanksgiving prices, AAA reports. Prices are expected to remain stable or slightly decrease over the holidays, due to lower demand and high inventories.
Travelers headed to South Carolina can expect to lower gas prices. The average there is currently $3.03 per gallon.
Air travel is expected to increase four percent this year, due in part to lower airfares, which average $203 for the top 40 U.S. routes. Car rental rates are expected to increase 40 percent from last year, from $40 to $56 per day.
Drunk driving is also an issue this time of year particularly. AAA notes, “Drunk driving is always a major problem during this travel period with holiday parties often held between Christmas and New Year’s. Drivers are advised to secure a designated driver or call a cab if they are planning to consume alcohol.”
North Carolina’s “Booze It & Lose It” campaign continues through Jan. 2, consisting of checkpoints and stepped-up patrols to remove impaired drivers from North Carolina roads.
State construction projects are also suspended this time of the year for the most part. Exceptions this year in the Cape Fear region include lane closures on the Wrightsville Draw Bridge, which carries U.S. 74-76 at Wrightsville Beach, and the Snow’s Cut Bridge at Carolina Beach, where U.S. 421 will be likewise reduced to one lane in each direction.
More information and additional travel resources, including a suggested emergency kit and tools such as fuel calculators and mobile updates, are available via AAA Carolinas’ website.
