Travel tips for what AAA says will be the busiest Memorial Day weekend in 20 years

WEST QUINCY, Mo. (WGEM) – AAA expects 43.8 million travelers to travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend.

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”

Local police are urging drivers to be safe on the road this Memorial Day weekend.

Quincy Police Pro-Act Officer Amber Haistings, said the department will have extra patrols out this weekend.

She said it is important for drivers to be prepared before they hit the road. This includes inspecting your car’s tire pressure and checking the oil. She said it is also a good idea to pack some extra food and blankets in case an emergency happens on the road.

As in past years, most holiday travelers are expected to travel by car – more than 38 million of them, according to AAA. The organization advises motorists hoping to avoid the worst traffic to leave metropolitan areas early Thursday and Friday and to stay off the roads between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

“We haven’t seen any pullback in travel since the pandemic. Year after year, we have seen these numbers continue to grow,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. “We don’t know when it’s going to stop. There’s no sign of it yet.”

The American Red Cross recommends the following travel tips when you are on the road:

• Be well-rested and alert, use your seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road.
• If you plan on drinking alcohol, designate a driver who won’t drink.
• Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
• Use caution in work zones. There are lots of construction projects underway on the highways.
• Don’t follow other vehicles too closely.
• Make frequent stops.
• Clean your vehicle’s lights and windows to help you see, especially at night. Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or during inclement weather. Don’t overdrive your headlights.
• Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low. If you have car trouble, pull as far as possible off the highway.
• Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in your trunk.
• Let someone know where you are going, your route and when you expect to get there. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.

Officer Haistings said Quincy Police will be looking out for distracted drivers and those under the influence.

She said common distractions are phones and even trying to eat while you drive.

She said fatigue can also be a concern, especially on long road trips.

“If you are tired while you are driving, maybe make sure you have two drivers, so one can sleep while the other one is driving and switch. Or if you don’t have somebody else with you, pull over to a safe area where you could rest your eyes for a bit,” Haistings said.

She said it’s also a good idea to leave early. It not only helps you beat traffic but gives you extra time to get to your destination.

According to AAA, drivers this weekend can expect similar gas prices as last year when the national average was roughly $3.57. Pump prices rose this spring but have held somewhat steady in recent weeks.

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