2 million to travel for holiday
A record 44.2 million Americans are expected to travel this Fourth of July weekend, including 1.9 million Ohioans, according to AAA.
Ohio is expected to see a 3.1 percent increase over last year’s travel numbers for the Independence Day weekend, which officially kicks off Friday and extends through Tuesday.
“Pack your patience,” said Kimberly Schwind, AAA senior public-relations manager.
Eighty-eight percent of Ohio travelers will be hitting the road to get to their destinations, and more traffic could mean delays and crashes, Schwind said.
She advises drivers to take the time to prepare their car for the road by checking tires and tire pressure, as well as batteries, fluid levels and wiper blades. Schwind also recommends packing a spare car key.
Prices at the pump on July 4 are expected to be the lowest for an Independence Day since 2005, with the average price across the country projected to be $2.21 per gallon, said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.
The State Highway Patrol is reminding people to buckle up, share the road and drive sober.
“With increased traffic, troopers will be out to ensure the safety of Ohio’s roadways,” said Sgt. Tiffany Meeks.
During July 1-4 last year, 12 fatal crashes in Ohio killed 13 people. Seven of those crashes involved people who were driving while intoxicated.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is trying to reduce the number or size of work zones for the holiday weekend.
“We’ll try to pull up as many orange barrels as we can, but in some cases, it’s just not possible,” said ODOT spokesman Matt Bruning.
ODOT has a smartphone app, OHGO, that sends real-time traffic alerts and provides construction updates. The app allows users to access more than 600 live traffic cameras across the state.
ODOT also has a website, ohgo.com, with similar features that drivers can check before they put the key in the ignition.
As another reminder for drivers to be safe, more than 130 digital message boards on Ohio highways are displaying “Be a firework. Spark responsible driving” throughout the holiday weekend.