Fourth Of July 2016 Will Be The Busiest Travel Period Ever, In Texas And Everywhere Else

Austin, TX -- If you're hitting the road for the Fourth of July, you won't be alone -- not by a long shot.

Lower gas prices and rising incomes are among the factors that will make this Independence Day holiday the most traveled ever, according to Triple AAA Texas -- with more more than 36 million Americans expected to be on the nation's highways this year, close to 3 million of them in Texas.

"AAA Travel is predicting -- thanks to improving consumer sentiment and low gas prices -- that this year's Independence Day will be the busiest ever recorded," AAA Texas officials said.

The 40 million-plus prediction counts people who will journey 50 miles or more between June 30 and July 4, officials note.

"It's fitting that, on a holiday commemorating the Declaration of Independence, millions of Americans will exercise their freedom by driving, flying or riding," AAA Texas officials add with linguistic flourish and historical allusion. "Whether it's to a backyard family barbecue or spectacular fireworks show, the pursuit of happiness can lead travelers far from home."

Cute, AAA Texas. Thanks for that. But for those on Texas roadways, the experience is likely to be far from enjoyable. Here's how the numbers break down, according to AAA Texas officials:

• 36.3 million travelers will journey to their destinations by automobile;
• 3.3 million will travel by plane;
• 3.2 million are expected to travel by train, bus or other;
• An expected 600,000 more people will travel this Fourth of July than last year;
• Three in a row is the number of consecutive years that travel volumes have increased;
• $2.31 is the national gas average per gallon -- the lowest in years -- yielding another reason to hit the road.

"Road tripping in the family car is the classic method of summer holiday travel, and with gas prices remaining low, that’s not expected to change this year," officials said. "AAA Travel predicts that more than 36 million automobile travelers will account for 84 percent of all long-distance Independence Day weekend trips."

Lower gas prices loom large as an incentive for road travel this year. AAA Texas officials report the national average of regular is around $2.31, which is 47 cents less than last Independence Day.

For Triple A, that makes for a busy weekend ahead: "With so many cars on the road, it’s no surprise that this is a busy time for AAA’s Roadside Assistance. AAA expects to rescue more than 370,000 motorists this Independence Day weekend."

Yet they offer tips to help motorists avoid becoming road rescues:

• "Get your battery checked. Dead batteries are one of the primary reasons for Roadside Assistance requests. If your car struggles to start, or your battery is more than three years old, don’t risk getting stranded. One easy way to have it tested is with AAA Battery Service, which will come directly to you. Learn more about AAA Battery Service."
• "Make sure your tires are prepared, too. Flat tires are another common reason for Roadside Assistance calls. Unusual wear patterns, improper inflation, or a hidden puncture can lead to more serious problems later, and having a flat or other tire failure in the middle of a long trip with the whole family is no fun." Tips on how to take care of your tires."
• "Keep your car keys on you, and bring an extra set. Lockouts make up a substantial portion of calls, even though wireless “smart key” technology has become ubiquitous. Easy ways to avoid lockouts include replacing your smart key’s battery every two years, keeping it in your pocket (versus somewhere in the car) and, if traveling with your spouse or another adult, having them bring a spare key."
• "Get a checkup for your car, just in case. While batteries and tires are the most common mechanical reasons for Roadside Assistance calls, AAA also tows plenty of vehicles that suffer unforeseen engine, transmission, and brake problems. An inspection at a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility is one way to help find issues that could potentially spoil your trip later." Find an Approved Auto Repair facility near you
• "Download the AAA App. Whether you’re looking to map a route, find the lowest gas prices, get AAA discounts, make travel arrangements, request Roadside Assistance, or find an Approved Auto Repair facility, the AAA App makes it simple. You can also find more than 58,000 AAA Approved and Diamond-rated hotels and restaurants via the app’s TripTik® Travel Planner." Learn more about the AAA App.

Drunk driving tragically spikes on Independence Day

The scourge of drunk driving is a perennial threat, and AAA Texas is among those trying to ameliorate the number of victims. They offer a service to people who find themselves too intoxicated to drive, towing motorist's cars while simultaneously giving rides home. The number to call for that free service: 1-800-AAA-HELP.

One oft-repeated tip to avoid drunk drivers -- particularly prevalent during holidays -- is to avoid the left lane at night. Often, wrong-way drivers entering highways turn onto the left lane of the roadway -- mistakenly believing in their inebriation that they are inconspicuously traveling on the right hand of the freeway.

This tendency among drunk drivers has yielded carnage on the streets. Tragically, Texas leads the nation in incidents of wrong-way driving fatalities and San Antonio is among the hardest hit among cities.

Citing data from the Texas Department of Transportation, KXAN-TV reports that in San Antonio there were 185 reported cases of wrong-way drivers in 2011 alone. Research indicates a full 80 percent of those wrong-way crashes occurred during the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Stated another way: 72 percent of all wrong-way driving incidents occur after sunset, according to KXAN-collected data.

Texas Department of Transportation officials have embarked on measures to lessen the wrong-way driving scourge in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and San Antonio, where TxDOT installed sensors to detect drivers going the wrong way. When the sensor is activated it triggers flashing wrong way signs over the highway, the news station reported..

The number of wrong-way driver reports spike after 2 a.m., the news station reported. As bars calling for closing time, inebriated drivers on the road nearly double, according to data. KXAN cited statistics from the Highway Special Investigation Report, which found that between 2004 and 2009, 59-percent of wrong-way drivers in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content equal to or above 0.15.

Officials at Drivers Ed Guru suggest avoiding the fast lane altogether -- not just on the Fourth of July but other holidays when incidents of drunk driving spike.

"Oftentimes, drunk drivers drift out of their lanes or completely cross into oncoming traffic," officials of the drivers education website write."You can reduce the risk of being side-swiped or hit head-on by driving slightly in the right side of your lane as oncoming vehicles approach. Also, be mindful of cars driving in the same direction as you. Try to maintain a safe distance between yourself and other cars."

The key: Don't assume anything -- especially at night -- officials advise: "Anticipating other drivers’ actions, but not going so far as to make assumptions about other drivers’ intentions is the hallmark of defensive driving," they write. "For instance, just because a driver has activated their turn signal, it doesn’t mean they’re going to turn where you think they’re going to turn–or that they’ll even turn at all."

It's especially advisable to avoid country roads and two-lane highways at night entirely. Such rural roads offer poor visibility, challenging curves and often are surrounded by wildlife that tend to cross the roadway unexpectedly that often leads to accidents.

"Add a few drunk drivers to the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster," officials noted.

Check on road conditions ahead of road travel

It's advisable to check on road conditions in advance of travel. One of the most comprehensive compilations of road conditions throughout Texas comes courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation. Their site "Drive Texas" offers real-time information on street construction, road closures, infrastructure damage and more road-related information in the entire state.

The site offers an interactive map of Texas, where users can click on the area of their travel. Once clicked, data appears in the form of a pop-up graphic detailing road conditions in that particular area.

Don't be dissuaded, and have safe, well-planned fun

Which is not to say you shouldn't bundle up in the family car to enjoy the holiday and suffuse oneself with patriotic stirrings. With good planning in advance and by exercising caution when driving, safe and headache-free fun can be had.

And if you need a list of fireworks displays or parades sites, Patch has got you covered. For those in the Austin area, click here to see a list of major events. For a list of pyrotechnics spectacles and parades throughout the country, click here.

Happy Fourth of July to one and all!