AAA predicts five percent increase in Delaware’s holiday traffic

Travelers who rather jump behind the wheel and drive this Independence Day appear to be taking advantage of the most popular mode of transportation, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
In Delaware, more than 97,000 of motorists are expected to drive this holiday instead of taking a plane, which is nearly a five percent increase from last year.

AAA predicts Delawareans will travel at least 50 miles from home to reach their destination. Record high traffic volume began on Friday when drivers started to hit the road for the extended Independence Day holiday weekend.

“Decreased fuel costs since a 2012 peak in early-April (more than 50-cents per gallon in most areas) and the ability to extend the holiday over one or two weekends are two factors impacting this year’s projected travel increases,” said Jim Lardear, Director of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Transportation officials say the mid-week holiday expands the traditional five-day travel period to six days, giving people the option of having a long weekend because of the two weekdays on either side of the holiday.  The expected 2012 Independence Day holiday travel volume will tie the past decade’s previous high mark set in 2007 and represents a nearly 42 percent increase from 2009.

86 percent of the travelers here in state will use a car, eight percent will fly to their destination and only six percent will use other modes of transportation such as a bus or train.