More S.C. residents, troopers take to road for holiday

More motorists are expected to take to the roadways for Thanksgiving travel this week and, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol, more troopers are expected to do the same.

A 63-cent increase in gasoline prices over the past year has done little to put damper holiday travel by vehicle, according to a press release issued Monday by AAA Carolinas.

“Thanksgiving is a family holiday and after a year of economic turmoil, people want to get away,” David E. Parson, AAA president and CEO, said in the release. “Gas prices have been creeping upward again, but it isn’t enough to deter most people’s vacation plans.”

In an unexpected bonus to travelers, fuel prices have begun a gradual slide downward since October when gasoline prices averaged about $2.49 a gallon. To date, the average is about $2.47 per gallon of gasoline, according to AAA Carolinas numbers.

Data show that more than a half a million Palmetto State residents will travel more than 50 miles from home, representing a 2.3 percent increase when compared with 2008 travel numbers, according to AAA.

Vehicle travel alone will likely increase by about 3.3 percent, or about 15,500 residents.

It is expected that about 500,000 state residents will travel by vehicle and about 36,000 will take to the skies to reach their holiday destination.

Air travel has continually decreased over the the past three years, likely because of baggage fees and other costs in areas where there previously were none.

Additionally, airlines are cutting back on the number of flights and are serving customers with smaller planes.

All of these factors contribute to flight delays and the frustration of passengers, according to AAA.

Back on the ground, motorists should encounter little delay on South Carolina roadways, as state law requires all road construction to cease around the holidays.

South Carolina troopers expect some delays and congestion on major roadways such as Interstates 95 and 26, however, according to a press release issued by the S.C. Department of Public Safety.

Troopers will have an increased presence on the roadways and at region headquarters to prevent crashes, speeding and dangerous driving.

If there is a crash with no injuries, troopers strongly suggest motorists move the vehicles out of the road and call for help using *HP on their mobile phones.

Keeping a vehicle in the road can lead to delays, cause more crashes and injure to emergency workers responding to the scene.

“One of the primary problems we encounter during this time are collisions caused by vehicles slowing due to congestion and then other vehicles not being able to stop due to speed, following too closely and inattention,” S.C. Highway Patrol Col. Kenny Lancaster Jr. said in the release.

The S.C. Highway Patrol Driving Under the Influence team will be working during the holidays, as well, according to the release.

Residents who are hitting the road to shop rather than travel Friday are asked to be especially cautious, calm and focused.