The July 4th travel season is underway. TSA plans to screen more than 32 million people over a 10-day period. Millions of people will also be on the road.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — AAA 1.9 million North Carolinians will hit the road during the July 4 holiday season.
The travel season is longer this year, from June 29 to July 7. One of the main reasons for this is remote working.
“People may have the option to work remotely, so they leave earlier because they think, 'I can get to my destination and then set up and work remotely,'” said Tiffany Wright, director of public affairs of AAA.
She expects the busiest day on the road to be during rush hour on July 3.
“If you can avoid, you know, the afternoon and evening, that's when you're probably going to see the most congestion,” Wright said.
INRIXa transport data and information provider said on Sunday (July 7), will also be bad as people return home from their vacations.
NCDOT does its part to make your driving easier.
“We will remove lane closures wherever possible on our highways as well as major highways,” David Uchiyama, NCDOT communications manager said. “This will allow crews to celebrate the holidays themselves and drivers to get to their destination, maybe just a little quicker.”
There are also things you can do on your own to make driving easier and safer. One of the most important is to check your tires.
“We recommend replacing tires at six years,” says a local company manager. Tires at reduced prices Derrick Pruitt said, “Once they hit that six-year threshold, they're more likely to fail beyond that threshold.”
Pruitt also recommended making sure to check your tire air pressure regularly.
“It's something that can greatly affect your safety and the wear on your tires,” Pruitt says.
As always, also be sure to practice safe driving habits.
“Stay alert, put down the phone, turn down the volume on the radio a little, keep your eyes up and, of course, obey all posted speed limit signs,” Uchiyama added.
AAA has partnered with Chicco to share safety tips for families with young children during this travel season:
- Check the fit of the car seat. Before you hit the road, check your child's weight and height to make sure they are in the correct seat and mode of use, especially when going from rear to back. the road to the forward-facing position. Children should remain rear-facing as long as possible to better protect their head, neck and spine in the event of a collision.
- Check the car seat installation again. Even if your car seat is already installed in the car, it’s worth checking that everything is safe and secure. A simple way to do this at home is to perform the ‘inch test’. Simply grasp the seat at the car’s seat belt path and pull it from side to side and front to back. If it moves more than an inch in any direction, uninstall and try again until a secure fit is achieved.
- Secure loose items in the car. Take the time to organize and clean your car before you hit the road. Storage organizers attached to the back of the driver and passenger seats are simple solutions to ensure everything has its place, especially loose items that can become projectiles in the event of a sudden stop.
- Be prepared for the unexpected. Prepare an emergency kit with first aid supplies, water, snacks, blankets, jumper cables, and flares. Make sure your phone is fully charged, but also keep a charger in the car.
- Trace your route. Families with young children should plan for frequent, longer stops along the way. Plan your route in advance.
- Bring the entertainment. Be sure to keep toys and books within reach to keep the kids entertained. If your kids use tablets or other electronic devices, make sure the devices are fully charged and pre-downloaded before leaving the house. Another fun way to get the whole family excited about the road trip is to create a family playlist of everyone's favorite songs.
Good news, right away gas price are cheaper, so you'll save a little money at the pump.
