Memorial Weekend: Traffic Congestion, Record Gas Prices, and Heat
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By AIADA Staff
Washington DC May 23, 2007; While the last Monday in May is historically significant in that it marks the day citizens pause to mourn the many men and women who lost their lives on freedom’s battlefield, this hectic time of year has also come to be known as the official start of the nation’s peak summer driving season.
And as expected, holiday travelers are once again in for a lot more of the usual this Memorial Day weekend – congested roadways, record gas prices, and high temperatures.
Estimates indicate that more than 38.3 million Americans will drive 100 miles or more in pursuit of some much needed fun in the sun, and a host of other celebratory activities. And despite previous projections that gas prices would average $2.95 per gallon this summer, the latest reports released Monday – not even a week before the start of the holiday driving season – show drivers are likely to pay record prices at the pump this weekend. The national average, already at $3.196 per gallon for regular grade gas, is up 33.7 cents from last month and 30.4 cents from a year ago.
Be Safe. Be Smart
It seems like there is never enough information out there to help drivers completely avoid the holiday rush. But thanks to advances in technology, there now exist a number of free services available via the internet to help drivers more than ever before stay informed of the latest developments and ensure travel to point A, B, and C is as quick, safe and efficient as possible.
Driver Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national “Click It or Ticket” campaign is already well underway, from mid-May through Memorial Day. Together with thousands of law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates, NHTSA is urging drivers to buckle up via a series of national TV and radio advertisements. Through Click It or Ticket, the federal agency seeks to lessen the number of traffic fatalities during one of the deadliest times of the year for drivers.
Traffic Reports
For free up-to-the-minute traffic reports, drivers can log onto . Traffic.com.In addition to its clever “Jam Factor,” which indicates the pace of traffic on highways throughout the nation, visitors can view live aerial webcam shots of cars in motion and learn of any construction projects that could slow you up. The site has a special email alert feature which could come in handy if you travel with a blackberry or other PDA device.
Weather Alerts
As temperatures and climates fluctuate from one region to the next, the Weather Channel is doing its part to keep drivers abreast of adverse weather conditions throughout the weekend with their interactive Interstate Outlook map. Simply locate your route on the map and weather conditions will automatically be displayed for you, every step of the way.
Gas Price Indicator
Gasbuddy.com is a terrific website for those traveling on a budget. This clever site provides drivers the exact name and location of the cheapest places to buy gas in all 50 states and Canada. Savvy cell phone users can visit GasbuddyToGo.com for individualized gas reports via text message and email.
5/23/2007