July 4th Travel Projected at All-Time High

With the holiday weekend approaching, North Carolinians can expect to see a record number of travelers on the road. According to AAA spokesperson Tiffany Wright, the projected 1.25 million North Carolinians expected to be traveling this 4th of July is an all-time high.

“The historic number of travelers we’re going to see really just adds to what we already predicted we knew would shape up to be a busy summer travel season,” Wright said.

Lower gas prices are a likely catalyst for these record numbers. Prices are down eight cents from last year to $2.12 a gallon but, according to Wright, we may see a spike in prices as the weekend approaches.

“What you see at the pump today doesn’t mean you’re going to see that tomorrow,” Wright said. “In fact, we might see prices increase, albeit by a few pennies, as we get closer to the holiday weekend.”

The Fourth of July is a particularly dangerous day for drivers. Last year, North Carolina saw 13 traffic fatalities, four of which were alcohol related. Wright urged travelers to practice safe and alert driving habits while on the road this holiday weekend.

“Don’t drink and drive, buckle up, obey the speed limit, put the cell phone down,” Wright said. “Distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. In fact, distracted driving is becoming an epidemic.”

According to Wright, the most popular Independence Day destinations for North Carolinians are Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, Wilmington, Charleston, Greenville, SC, and Washington, DC.

‹

After Shooting at Vehicle in Pittsboro, Wilmington Man Faces Road Rage Charges

A road rage incident along the U.S. Highway 64 bypass in Pittsboro on Thursday led to one man charged, according to the sheriff's office.

Halloween Road Rage Shooting Injures Child Near Hillsborough

A reported road rage incident in Hillsborough led to a shooting on Halloween night that caused minor injuries to a child.

Carrboro Police: Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest in Road Rage Shooting Case

The Carrboro Police Department arrested one man on Monday in connection to a road rage shooting from last month. According to police reports, 40-year-old Gregory Elijah Wilson Sr. faces several charges, including three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, discharging firearm into occupied property and possession of a firearm by a felon, stemming from […]

Carrboro Police Investigating Potential Road Rage, Gun Violence Case

The Carrboro Police Department is investigating a shooting on Monday night that resulted from an argument between people in two different vehicles. A release from the department Tuesday afternoon said officers responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Jones Ferry Road and Davie Road around 6:53 p.m. on Monday. After their initial […]

Chapel Hill Police: Road Rage Shooting Suspect Arrested

Authorities arrested a Durham man on Thursday for his involvement in a Chapel Hill road rage shooting that injured one driver earlier this month. A release from the Chapel Hill Police Department on Thursday said members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Task Force arrested 21-year-old Jose Daniel Rivas-Sanchez for his role in a June 7 […]

Road Rage Incident Leads to Shots Fired; Chapel Hill Police Investigating

The Chapel Hill Police are seeking the public’s help in finding a motorist or footage of an incident from Saturday morning along Fordham Boulevard. A release from the department said a hit and run incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. along the busy street. Police say a victim described his vehicle being hit by another vehicle […]

AAA: 1.3 Million North Carolinians Traveling on Memorial Day Weekend

The unofficial start of summer is here, and many North Carolinians will be hitting the road for an early vacation this weekend. AAA Carolinas is projecting that 1.3 million North Carolinians will be traveling this weekend. That would be the highest travel volume recorded for Memorial Day since AAA began tracking in 2000. While the […]

Chapel Hill Road Rage Results in Shots Fired into Occupied Vehicle

On the James Taylor Bridge in southern Chapel Hill Saturday, an incident nearly turned deadly. “The suspect believes that he may have been cut off,” Chapel Hill Police spokesman Ran Northam told WCHL. “The suspect then showed a weapon and fired multiple shots at the victim’s vehicle. “We believe that this was taking place while […]

Commentary: Road Rage in Chapel Hill

Two pedestrians have been struck and killed in Chapel Hill this year. People come first. Those in charge of safety need to look more closely to the areas where those who walk, live and work in Chapel Hill.

July 4th Travel Projected at All-Time High

With the holiday weekend approaching, North Carolinians can expect to see a record number of travelers on the road. According to AAA spokesperson Tiffany Wright, the projected 1.25 million North Carolinians expected to be traveling this 4th of July is an all-time high. “The historic number of travelers we’re going to see really just adds […]

›