Memorial Day travelers will face traffic delays, higher gas prices

ALBANY — With Memorial Day, and the unofficial start to summer, just around the corner, many southwest Georgians — like the rest of the nation — are making travel plans. Those planning to travel by car will have to contend with traffic congestion and the highest gas prices since 2014, according to a company that surveys gas retailers across the nation.

According to AAA-The Auto Club Group, more than 41.5 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend, nearly 5 percent more than last year and the most in more than a dozen years (2005).

Even as gas prices rise like outside temperatures, AAA analysts say they expect an additional 2 million people will take to planes, trains, automobiles and other modes of transportation. INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, said it expects travel delays on major roads could be 2-3 times longer than normal, with the busiest days being Thursday and Friday (May 24-25), as commuters mix with holiday travelers.

“Higher gas prices will not be enough to keep travelers home this Memorial Day weekend,” Vicky Evans, AAA’s assistant vice president for travel sales development, said. “A strong economy and growing consumer confidence are giving Americans all the motivation they need to kick off what we expect to be a busy summer travel season with a Memorial Day getaway.”

Sgt. First Class Jason Ellis with Georgia State Patrol Post 40 in Albany said Memorial Day traffic is usually heavy.

“Traffic for Memorial Day is normally heavy since it’s the first holiday of the summer,” Ellis said.

Due to commuters ending their workday and sharing the roads with holiday travelers, AAA predicts that drivers in the metro Atlanta area will experience delays 1.6 times the usual. The company lists the worst day to travel as March 24 and the worst times at 3:30-5:30 p.m. AAA advises motorists to drive during the late morning, early afternoon or take a different route if possible.

As for gas prices, the auto club said that the 88 percent of Memorial Day travelers who are driving will pay the most for gas in four years. The national average for gasoline was $3.66 in 2014 and is currently $2.87. AAA does not expect the holiday price to “come anywhere near 2014 levels.”

To help travelers reach their destinations safely, Ellis recommends conducting a pre-trip vehicle inspection, being aware of impaired drivers, and “if you plan on drinking since it’s a holiday, have a designated driver.”

AAA also said that it expects to rescue more than 340,000 motorists along the roadside this Memorial Day weekend due to flat tires, dead batteries and lockouts. To avoid car trouble, the club advises adhering to the BET acronym: “(Have) your Battery tested, (look) for Engine coolant leaks and (check) your Tire condition.”