Memorial Day weekend is a time to spend with family and friends—but ideally, not stuck in traffic.
This Memorial Day weekend is predicted to have record-breaking numbers of travelers on the road with 41.5 million nationally and about 1,630,000 in Virginia, according to a release from AAA Tidewater Virginia. These are the largest numbers of travelers for Memorial Day weekend in more than 12 years.
With this many travelers on the roads, INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, expects there to be traffic delays that could be three times longer than normal.
The most common mode of transportation will be by automobile, with a predicted 36.6 million Americans nationally driving for the weekend vacation. AAA has used past analytics to determine the worst days for travel being Thursday and Friday in the late afternoon.
Rising could prices aren’t expected to to keep drivers from their first trip of the summer, AAA said. In April, gas prices averaged at about $2.72, which was a 33-cent increase from last year.
“The highest gas prices since 2014 won’t keep travelers home this Memorial Day weekend,” said Georjeane Blumling, vice president of public affairs for AAA Tidewater Virginia. “A strong economy and growing consumer confidence are giving Americans all the motivation they need to kick off what we expect to be a busy summer travel season with a Memorial Day getaway.”
Before hitting the road, it is good idea to make sure your vehicle is prepared for possible traffic and congestion delays. AAA recommends doing a check on the vehicle’s battery, inspecting the engine for coolant leaks and taking a look at the condition of the tires.
Drivers also should be prepared for an emergency by having a mobile phone, car charger, batteries, first-aid kit and food and drink available.
