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Thursday, July 02, 2009 2:29 PM Less road travel expected this weekend By Antonio Velarde | Times Staff Writer Though gas prices across the state have been dropping for about two weeks, holiday road travel is expected to be down this weekend for the Fourth of July holiday. State and local law enforcement officials will still be on the lookout for speeders and drunk drivers over the weekend with checkpoints and increased patrols. AAA Carolinas said holiday road travel this weekend will be nearly 3 percent lower this year than for July 4 last year. Gas prices statewide are down more than 5 cents from a high of $2.66 after 51 straight days of increases. AAA Carolinas said that the combination of economic uncertainty and higher unemployment will drive down the number of expected motorists from 971,000 to 945,000. Still, more than a million North Carolinians are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend by car or other means. This is the second straight year that July 4 travel has declined. The average gas price for June 30 of last year was $3.99 a gallon. Law enforcement has joined together for the "Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker" campaign, which kicked off earlier this week and continues through Sunday. There will be checkpoints and increased patrols to try to remove impaired drivers from the roads. Last year, there were 377 alcohol-related crashes -- 322 with injuries, and 12 resulting in fatalities -- over the July 4 holiday. Also this weekend, the N.C. Department of Transportation said it will suspend most road construction activities to cut down on traffic delays and improve driving conditions. The DOT urges drivers to move over when passing stopped emergency vehicles or if caught in a minor accident. The DOT also urges drivers to follow the following precautions: * Leave early to get a head start on driving, and travel at non-peak times. * Stay alert, especially in road construction work zones. * Be patient and follow the posted speed limit. * Use alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion and call 511, the department's free traffic information line, or visit www.ncdot.gov/traffictravel for real-time traffic updates. avelarde@wilsontimes.com | 265-7868 |
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