Motorists expected to hit the road for Labor Day thanks to better economy, lower gas prices

Source: The Fayetteville Observer, N.迷你倉C.Aug. 30--Lower gas prices, a slowly improving economy and better weather mean more travelers will take to the road this Labor Day weekend than did last year.AAA Carolinas predicts that 972,600 North Carolina residents will travel more than 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday. That's 5 percent more than last year.The average cost of a gallon of gasoline in North Carolina this week is $3.46, lower than the $3.72 heading into Labor Day weekend last year."We do see that there is a threshold of about $3.50 where people think gas is cheaper," said Angela Daley, a spokeswoman for AAA Carolinas. "People might not be saying, 'Gas is so cheap,' but it's not going to be a factor in their vacation plans, whereas when it was at $3.72 or even higher, they might delay travel plans or not travel so far or spend as much," she said.The average price in Fayetteville on Thursday was $3.41, according to the Gasbuddy website. Last week, the average price was $3.35 per gallon, which was the lowest all summer.Prices have fallen steadily since July 21, but the escalating tension in Syria has raised the cost of crude oil and nudged up prices at the pump, Gasbuddy's analysts have noted.The bump has not been enough to affect AAA Carolinas' travel predictions. But as Laci Blake served customers at the BP Family Fare on Hay Street Thursday , she said prices are still high enough for drivers to think twice about a long trip."I wouldn't be going anywhere at $3.40 a gallon," she said.Weather also hurt last year's travel numbers, with the threat of Hurricane Isaac a deterrent. This weekend, the National Weather Service forecasts typical late summer conditions, w自存倉th highs near 90 and a chance of afternoon showers, increasing slightly on Monday.The N.C. Department of Transportation will suspend road construction on most interstates and state highways from 4 p.m. today until 9 a.m. Tuesday. One local exception is U.S. 1 just north of Aberdeen in Moore County, where bridge construction has traffic reduced to one lane in each direction.More state troopers will be on the roads through Monday as part of the annual Booze It & Lose It campaign that focuses on holiday weekends. Of the 278 fatal wrecks the Highway Patrol investigated in last summer, 88 involved impaired driving. Drivers should expect increased patrols and checkpoints statewide.The campaign also extends to the state's 5,000 square miles of inland streams, rivers, lakes and coastal waterways, where wildlife resources officers will be enforcing laws against operating a boat while drinking. Violations can result in a $1,000 fine and jail time.The National Safety Council estimates the number of traffic deaths during Labor Day weekend is 14.6 percent higher than the weekends before and after. The council estimates there will 400 deaths on U.S. roads this weekend.That's another reason for Ed Ancherico to be happy he is staying put. As he filled his car with gas in Haymount on Thursday, Ancherico said he will visit Myrtle Beach, S.C., next weekend instead."I think most of the traffic will be gone by then," he said.Staff writer Gregory Phillips can be reached at phillipsg@fayobserver.com or 486-3596.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at .fayobserver.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉新蒲崗