AAA predicts slight dip in Mountain West July 4th travel

She says compared to last Independence Day North Carolinians are saving an average of 91 cents a gallon at the pump.

Christopher Polston said he wasn’t planning to travel over the weekend because he would be working, but he observed that the prices were lower than previous year.

According to AAA, it is predicted that just under 871,000 people will travel in Maryland alone this holiday weekend, an estimated 2.3 percent increase over the previous year.

“This Independence Day, more people will travel to celebrate our nation’s freedom with friends and family than any year since 2007”, said Tony Spada, president and chief executive officer of AAA Western and Central New York.

Low gas prices and rising household incomes mean more Americans will travel this Fourth of July than they have since 2007. UDOT noted in 2014 that about 83 percent of people wear seat belts, but of those killed on the highway previous year, almost half wear not wearing seatbelts. This year’s estimate is the highest since before the recession.

The increase of travelers is.7% more than past year, despite a significant drop in gas prices. “It is the ideal time to make vacation memories and enjoy a recess from the responsibilities of work and school”.

Americans traveling also are expected to spend more money this year – $378 each, or $15.8 billion total, according to economists at the US Travel Association. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2015 Independence Day Travel Forecast can be found here. The National Safety Council predicts that as many as 409 Americans will be killed this Independence Day, and another 49,500 will be injured in accidents.

Tolls: Drivers will pay 1.6 percent more for tolls on Florida’s Turnpike and other state-operated toll roads starting Wednesday.