CHARLOTTE, N.C. — AAA projects 1.9 million North Carolinians will hit the roads this July Fourth holiday season.
It’s a longer travel season this year, running from June 29 to July 7. A big reason for that is remote work.
"People can have the ability to work remotely, so they leave earlier because they say 'I can reach my destination and then set up shop and work remotely,” director of public affairs for AAA Tiffany Wright said.
She expects the busiest day on the road to be during rush hours on July 3.
“If you can avoid, you know, the afternoon and evening hours, that's when you're probably going to see the most congestion," Wright said.
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights said Sunday, July 7, will also be bad as people return home from their vacations.
NCDOT is doing its part to make your drive easier.
“We'll be removing lane closures wherever possible on our interstates as well as major highways," NCDOT communications officer David Uchiyama said. "That's going to allow the crews to celebrate the holiday themselves, and allow drivers to get to their destinations, maybe just a little bit quicker."
There are also things you can do on your end to make the drive easier and safer. One of the biggest ones is checking your tires.
“We recommend replacing tires at six years of age," manager of a local Discount Tire Derrick Pruitt said. "So whenever they hit that six-year point ... they become more likely for failure past that point."
Pruitt also said to make sure you’re consistently checking your tires' air pressure.
“That's one thing that can greatly affect your safety and how your tires are going to wear,” Pruitt explained.
As always, make sure to practice safe driving habits, too.
“Remain alert, put the phone down, turn the radio down just a little bit, keep your eyes up, of course, obey all posted speed signs,” Uchiyama added.
AAA teamed up with Chicco to share safety tips for families with small children this travel season:
- Check car seat fit. Before you hit the road, check your child’s weight and height to ensure they’re in the right seat and mode of use – especially when it comes to transitioning from rear to forward-facing. Children should remain rear-facing as long as possible for better protection of their head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash.
- Double check car seat installation. Even if your car seat is already installed in the car, it’s worth checking everything is safe and secure. An easy at-home way to do this is with the “inch test.” Simply grab the seat at the car seat belt path and pull side to side and front to back. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, uninstall and start over until a secure fit is achieved.
- Secure loose items in the car. Take time to organize and clean up your car before hitting the road. Storage organizers that secure to the back of the driver and passenger seats are simple solutions to make sure everything has a spot, especially loose items that can become projectiles in case of a sudden stop.
- Be prepared for the unexpected. Pack an emergency kit with first-aid supplies, water, snacks, blankets, jumper cables, and flares. Make sure your phone is fully charged, but also keep a charger in the car.
- Map your route. Families with young children should plan for frequent and longer stops along the way. Map out your route ahead of time.
- Bring entertainment. Make sure to place toys and books within reach to keep children entertained. If your kids use tablets or other electronics, make sure the devices are fully charged and pre-downloaded before leaving home. Another fun way to get the whole family excited for the road trip is to create a family playlist of everyone’s favorite songs.
One piece of good news, right now gas prices are trending cheaper, so you’ll save a little money at the pump.