AAA: More drivers in Delaware over Labor Day weekend

Lower gas prices might encourage motorists in Delaware to take one last summer excursion over the Labor Day weekend.

AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts that nearly 93,500 Delawareans will take to the roads this Labor Day weekend, a 1.6 percent increase from last year’s tally.

“Starting with Memorial Day weekend, this summer’s holiday travel has seen a gradual increase compared to prior years,” said Jim Lardear, director of government and public affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic. “The modest rise we’re projecting for Labor Day can be attributed to greater consumer confidence, which has led to more spending.”

A decline in gas prices in recent weeks won’t hurt either. Delaware’s gas average is at $3.31, just one penny above the lowest price of the year, which was set at $3.30 on Feb. 7. The highest average in Delaware this year was recorded on April 29 when the price hit $3.68 per gallon on average.

Nationally, nearly 11 percent of the U.S. population will travel over the Labor Day weekend, an increase of 1.6 percent over last year. That increase is also attributable to the drop in gas prices. AAA said that American consumers are paying the lowest prices for gas on average since 2010.