A 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

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