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Southern Californians Will Take Off to Hot Spots This Labor Day Weekend

2 September 1999

Southern Californians Will Take Off to Vegas, Other Hot Spots This Labor Day Weekend, Says Auto Club

    LOS ANGELES--Sept. 2, 1999--An estimated 2.6 million Southern Californians are expected to take advantage of the summer's last holiday weekend by driving to their favorite local holiday destinations, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    They are among a projected 29.2 million Americans who will drive 100 miles or more to getaway destinations this weekend. The total number of Americans taking Labor Day vacations by car, plane, ship, bus or train is estimated at 34.8 million.
    That's a 2 percent increase over last year but still lower than the Labor Day travel record set in 1997, when 34.9 million Americans took long weekend getaways.
    Higher gas prices apparently won't dampen the travel bug for Southern Californians, say experts at the Auto Club. An Auto Club survey shows that the statewide average price of $1.54 a gallon for regular unleaded is 33 cents higher than over last year's holiday weekend, and 16 cents higher than two years ago. The national average gas price is $1.25 per gallon, 18 cents higher than over the same period last year.
    "Generally, gas prices don't impact motorists' decisions on whether to take long holiday weekend trips," said Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp. "For example, Southern California travelers who drive 800 miles in a car with fuel economy of 20 miles to the gallon probably will spend $13 more for gas this weekend than they would have last year."
    The most popular Labor Day holiday getaway destinations for Southern California travelers, based on the number of bookings by the Auto Club's AAA Travel Agency, are:

1.  Las Vegas
2.  Hawaii
3.  San Diego
4.  Central Coast (Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Cambria)
5.  Yosemite
6.  San Francisco
7.  Monterey
8.  Arizona-Phoenix area
9.  Cabo San Lucas, B.C. Mexico
10. Seattle

    To make this weekend's trip a pleasant one, the Auto Club recommends:

--   Getting on the road early. Typically, outgoing traffic will be
     heaviest during Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Heavy
     incoming traffic can be expected Monday afternoon.

--   Checking your vehicle's fluid levels, belts, hoses and tires. Hot
     weather can crack worn belts and hoses and cause a weak battery
     to fail.

--   Packing plenty of fluids and activities for youngsters for long 
     trips.

--   Planning your route ahead of time and bringing along a map in
     case you need to choose an alternate route. Motorists can call
     the California Highway Information Number at 800/427-7623 for
     interstate and state route lane closures and highway closures.
     The information is updated hourly.

--   Taking care with your children by properly using safety belts and
     car seats, and accompanying them into the restroom during travel
     breaks.

--   Choosing a well-lit, populated area for rest stops when driving 
     at night.

    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs and legislative advocacy.
    Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.