An expected 1.032 million North Carolina residents will be traveling more than 50 miles over this Labor Day weekend, according to AAA Carolinas. With everyone trying to celebrate their last vacation before the winter, it’s important to remember the safety precautions when driving in traffic.
AAA Carolinas’ Tiffany Wright said they are expecting 900,000 of those travelers to be on the roadways.
“We always want to remind everybody to obey traffic safety laws but there are a few tips, we know there are a ton of them I could give you, but just a few that you should keep in mind when you’re hitting the road,” Wright said. “Obviously before you even leave you want to make sure that you check your vehicle, we are talking about your tires and making sure those windshield wipers are in proper order. Getting enough sleep, I don’t think we talk about that enough, but motorists need at least five hours of sleep before you are going to head out on a road-trip.”
Other safety tips include removing all distractions from your driving whether it is a cell phone or talking with your other passengers in your car; make sure you are paying attention to the road ways.
“We are seeing so many of these rear-end collisions that could be prevented and over half of them have to do with distracted driving. So we need to avoid as many distractions as possible. So many of these fender benders can turn into fatalities on our roadways and we want to see those numbers go down,” Wright said.
Those on the roadways across North Carolina will pay an average of $2.10 per gallon for gas.
The holiday weekend is declared as Thursday, September 1 to Monday, September 5 but Wright said many residents are expected to extend their travels up to a week this Labor Day.
http://chapelboro.com/featured/aaa-expects-crowded-north-carolina-roadways-for-labor-dayNearly 80 percent of North Carolina drivers experience extreme road rage while driving, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety on Friday.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a non-profit, publicly supported research and educational organization with a mission to discover the causes of car crashes and prevent and minimize injuries.
From 2011 to 2015 when the study took place, North Carolina had 55,000 crashes that resulted from erratic, reckless, careless and negligent behavior, 38,000 injuries and 1,401 fatalities from those accidents.
“North Carolina’s statistics are staggering, far too many drivers are transforming minor frustrations into rage and aggression,” said AAA Carolina’s Foundation for Traffic Safety President Tiffany Wright.
North Carolina isn’t the only state where these rates are overwhelming.
According to the study, drivers living in the Northeast were nearly 30 percent more likely to yell, honk or gesture angrily to other drivers than people living in other parts of the country.
The study also found that male and younger drivers aged 19-39 were significantly more likely to engage in extreme road rage, such as purposefully ramming other vehicles or exiting the car to confront other drivers.
Drivers who reported engaging in unsafe driving behaviors, like speeding and running red lights, were also more likely to report showing road rage.
“Remember not to let these frustrations turn dangerous; always remain calm in order to reach your destination safely,” Wright advised to the eight million U.S. drivers who reported experiencing extreme road rage.
The AAA Foundation suggests that drivers not be forceful on the road, to remember to be tolerant and forgiving and to avoid eye contact and making gestures to other drivers.
The full report along with more information can be found on the AAA Foundation’s website.
http://chapelboro.com/news/safety/study-road-rage-excessive-in-north-carolina-driversAAA Carolinas projects that nearly 1.2 million North Carolinians will travel this weekend hitting a record high for Fourth of July travel.
AAA Carolinas Public Relations Manager Tiffany Wright said the high volume of travelers is due to the low gas prices.
“The numbers just keep going up and up in a direct correlation of the fact that, I know some folks have seen gas prices go up and down and up and down but they are still the lowest that we have seen in 11 years, so that’s impressive,” Wright said.
Since more people will be on the road this weekend it is important to keep the roads safe.
“Try and do those things that are preventable. Obviously, have your seatbelt on, don’t drink and drive, and by all means please eliminate as many distractions as you can. There’s nothing worth a life,” Wright said. “So what we like to say is, ‘get in that vehicle, stay focused, disconnect and drive’, put those mobile devices down, do the one thing you are meant to do when you get behind the wheel, and that’s drive the car.”
To make sure your travel route is clear of construction and closed roads, you can check the NCDOT website for up to date information. You can find more resources for your travel with the AAA mobile app.
“It’s great. You’ve got a navigation system to help travelers find the best route, and you can also find updated gas prices. We like to say, ‘shop smart at the pump’, look for those cheap gas prices as you are trying to reach your destination, and if you are a AAA member you can view those discounts,” Wright said.
Wright said many residents will be traveling to destinations along the coast of North and South Carolina. She added Washington, D.C. was another popular location to spend the July 4 weekend.
http://chapelboro.com/news/traffic/aaa-projects-record-number-of-north-carolinians-traveling-for-holiday-weekendA record number of North Carolinians, nearly three million, are expected to hit the road this holiday season, according to AAA Carolinas.
Falling gas prices are making it more affordable to travel this year. The state average for a gallon of gas is $1.97 and expected to continue to fall during the winter months.
During the holidays, drivers might see variation in prices at different gas stations. This is due to the high number of travelers and competition between gas stations to attract those customers, according to Tiffany Wright of AAA Carolinas.
An estimated 158,000 North Carolinians will be flying to their destination this holiday season, a slight increase from last year. On average, airfare rates are down 6% from 2014.
AAA recommends keeping an emergency kit in your car in case you become stranded due to bad weather or car trouble. Helpful things to include in your kit are flash lights, blankets, battery jumper cables and a small bag of sand or cat litter for traction in case you get stuck.
Drunk driving can be a problem during the holiday season and police across the state are cracking down. North Carolina’s “Booze It & Lose It” campaign started Dec.11 and will run through Jan. 3. The campaign includes checkpoints and increased patrols. If you are planning on consuming alcohol at a holiday party, make sure you have a designated driver or hire a car service.
For real time travel updates visit: www.ncdot.gov
http://chapelboro.com/news/traffic/record-number-of-holiday-travelers-expectedReporting by Blake Hodge.
Thanksgiving week is here, and that means many residents of the Tar Heel state are visiting family. AAA Carolinas spokesperson Tiffany Wright says you will have quite a bit of company on North Carolina’s thoroughfares over the Thanksgiving holiday.
“There will be about 1.2 million travelers on the road in North Carolina,” Wright says. “That’s an increase of about 48,000 from last year. Travelers that will be traveling 50 miles or more from home, 90% of those will be on the road.”
Wright says prices at the gas pump continuing to drop has allowed more residents to travel the highways visiting family.
“It’s impressive,” she says. “Look back to Labor Day: in fact we’re down $0.57 than we were paying from Labor Day. So motorists have a lot more money in their wallets to spend during this holiday season.”
Travelers making their way across North Carolina will see the highest gas prices in Asheville, at $2.92 per gallon. The Charlotte-Gastonia area, however, has the lowest prices in the state, at $2.73 per gallon. If you are travelling out of the state, many of North Carolina’s neighbors have prices very similar, in some cases even slightly lower, than the Tar Heel state.
Wright adds that the Thanksgiving period technically runs from Wednesday through Sunday. “The day before Thanksgiving, that Wednesday, is the worst traffic day of the year,” she says. “If you don’t have to leave on Wednesday, try and leave before Wednesday. If you do have to leave on Wednesday, try and leave before 2 PM, or – if you can afford to stay a little bit later at home – wait until after 7 PM.”
The congestion on the roadways can turn the highways deadly, as 12 people died last year over the Thanksgiving period in crashes on North Carolina Highways.
http://chapelboro.com/news/traffic/low-gas-prices-fueling-high-thanksgiving-trafficYou might have noticed this at the pump already, but gas prices are beginning to drop, in North Carolina and nationwide – and it’s likely they’ll drop even further as we get into the fall.
“Right now in North Carolina, the average price for a gallon of gas is $3.28 – six cents cheaper than it was a month ago,” says Tiffany Wright of AAA Carolinas. “The downward trend is looking good, and I think it will continue.”
Wright says gas prices typically drop during the fall for several reasons: demand goes down after the summer driving season, and refineries are allowed to switch to a cheaper blend of gas. The price of oil is also falling this year, and that’s adding to the decline in gas prices.
And as we head into October and beyond, Wright says don’t be surprised to see gas prices dropping even further – even below $3.00.
“Of course we can’t predict the future, but it’s a real possibility that we’ll be seeing that in North Carolina,” she says.
The current statewide average of $3.28 per gallon is six cents cheaper than the national average, which is $3.34.
http://chapelboro.com/news/news-around-town/nc-gas-prices-drop-3CHAPEL HILL – A record 2.8 million North Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, according to AAA Carolinas.
Angela Daley of AAA says that’s an increase of 48,500 total travelers compared to last year.
“The increase is only about 1.7 percent, so it is not a significant increase, but we have seen very slow and steady increases since the recession,” Daley says. “With Christmas and New Year’s holidays, we never really saw a huge drop-off because of the recession.”
Daley says that more than 90 percent of travelers plan to drive to their destination.
And good news for everyone, gas prices haven’t gone up. North Carolina gas prices currently average $3.23 per gallon— the same price as a year ago. Motorists can find the cheapest gasoline in North Carolina in High Point at $3.18 a gallon and the most expensive gas in Boone at $3.30.
South Carolina offers lower prices with $3.07 a gallon, Tennessee with $3.06, Virginia with $3.15, and Georgia with $3.17.
“I do think that with the improving economy, people are less concerned about what they are paying at the pump,” Daley says. “For a majority of this year, we have been paying less than we were on the same calendar date a year ago.”
The 12-day Christmas and New Year’s travel holiday is defined as Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, which is one day longer than the travel period last year, Daley explains. The year-end holiday ranges from 10 to 13 days, and volume often increases relative to length.
http://chapelboro.com/news/traffic/record-number-north-carolinians-travel-holidaysImage courtesy of Clotee Pridgen Allochuku
CHARLOTTE – You may never see gas prices go below $3, according to a new report by the American Automobile Association.
Director of communications for AAA Carolinas, Angela Daley, says that, with a few exceptions like South Carolina, this looks like the future of gas prices in America.
“I think it’s reasonable for some parts of the country to drop below $3 a gallon, but for the most part, what we’re seeing is that range between $3 and $4 a gallon, with $3.50 being about normal,” Daley says.
Oil prices are only expected to go up, as Daley says prices typically rise in the second half of the summer.
“It’s due to demand, but it’s also due to the fact that unrest in Egypt is causing concerns over the distribution of oil through the Suez Canal,” Daley says.
Daley says that conflict in other countries affects our oil prices because the oil market is global and interconnected.
“I think the more that we can produce domestically, we’ll be able to keep the volatility from being as dramatic as we have seen over the past few years,” Daley says. “But it’s really all about supply and demand and remembering that we’re working in a global market, so as much as we’re producing here, much of that oil is still being exported elsewhere.”
Daley says rising gas prices are also a result of both oil production and oil demand from growing economies.
“For the most part, we’re seeing that countries, like China, India, Brazil, are all increasing their demand,” Daley says. “So as we increase our supply here and globally, the demand is also going up.”
Daley says oil prices in North Carolina especially are expected to rise throughout the summer, as the Carolinas get 90 percent of their oil from the Gulf and hurricane season is just getting started.
http://chapelboro.com/news/business/aaa-report-no-more-gas-below-3CHAPEL HILL – If you’re taking a road trip this Easter Weekend you can rejoice!
Since peaking at $3.80 on Feb. 22, the average cost of a gallon of gas in North Carolina has fallen to $3.64.
“Fuel prices are down about 25 cents this Easter Weekend compared to last year,” said Janeane Flow of AAA.
Flow says more people will be on the roads this weekend because the weather forecast calls for pleasant conditions.
As we head into the summer travel season, Flow explains we can expect gas prices to remain lower than last year barring any supply issues from the Middle East.
“With gasoline prices being lower, we do expect people to travel more this year. People are probably tired of recently cutting back travel plans,” Flow explained.
Flow says the popular destinations are predicted to be beaches of North and South Carolina as well as Walt Disney world.
And if you are taking a long road trip, Flow advises to take a break every one to two hours or once every one hundred miles.
http://chapelboro.com/news/nc-gas-prices-down-going-into-easter-weekend
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