Fourth of July travel fizzles

BRADEN LAMMERS
Braden.Lammers@newsandtribune.com

June 27, 2009 09:16 pm

— For just the second time this decade, fewer travelers will be hitting the road for the Fourth of July holiday.
According to AAA, those traveling for the holiday weekend will decrease nearly 2 percent from last year. In 2008, the drop was markedly more significant, with 37.8 million people traveling more than 50 miles away from home, compared to 42.3 million in 2007, a 10.5 percent decrease.
The drop in 2008 was mainly because of the $4-per-gallon gasoline prices that kept holiday travelers closer to home. The national average gas price at the beginning of July 2008 was $4.11. The current national average for gas is $2.65 — $1.46 less, according to AAA’s fuel gauge report Web site.
The decline in travelers this year comes from a combination of uncertainty over the economy, job losses and, in part, a recent increase in gas prices, according to AAA.
“I don’t think it’s anything substantially concerning,” said Greg Seiter, public affairs manager for AAA’s Hoosier motor club, about the decline.
For businesses depending on summer travelers, the concerns run a little deeper.
Horizons Travel Inc. in Clarksville has seen a drop in people traveling for a second straight year.
“[The decline] this year is because more people are out of work or afraid of losing their jobs,” said Debbie Dehn, manager at Horizons Travel.
She estimated a 25 percent drop in travelers this year during the summer holidays compared to last year.
“People are booking at the last minute and they’re not traveling as far,” she said.
AAA’s numbers back up Dehn’s statement. Thirty-eight percent of those traveling during the Fourth of July weekend will take a less than 250 mile round-trip.
The people that are not making travel plans because of economic fears, or the slight increase in gas prices, may be reaching its end.
“I think we are starting to see that we are starting to leave that trend,” Seiter said.
There is some evidence more people are willing to make weekend travel plans. AAA noted an increase in travel during the Memorial Day holiday, compared to last year.
Most businesses dependent upon summer travel are making adjustments and the rebound in numbers over Memorial Day was a result of some signs of economic recovery, Seiter said.
The good new is, if people can afford to travel, it is likely they can find a deal.
“I encourage people to go now,” Dehn said. “Deals aren’t going to get any better. [People] are getting really good deals because hotel occupancy is so low.”
Hotel occupancy rates have dropped 12 percent, AAA said. Airfare prices are down 16 percent compared to last year.
AAA reported that air travel will see an increase about 5 percent over last year. The increase is largely because of a decline in airfares, but still will only account for about 5 percent of travelers over the weekend.

SO YOU KNOW
If you are planning to travel for the July 4 holiday, the Indiana State Police recommends following these safety tips:
• If you are planning to travel a long distance, make sure you are well-rested. A fatigued driver is a dangerous driver.
• Avoid tailgating. Remember the two-second rule between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
• Make sure everyone is buckled up.
• Never drink and drive.
• Fewer travelers will be on the road this Fourth of July weekend.
• If you have the means, now is the time to hit the road.
— Indiana State Police

Expect Extra patrols
Look for an increased presence from police if you are on the roadways for the Fourth of July.
One hundred and fifty additional police will be on area roadways as part of Operation C.A.R.E., or Combined Accident Recovery Effort. Operation C.A.R.E. is a federal program that funds the extra patrols.
Officers will be targeting impaired drivers, speeders, those following too closely, making unsafe lane changes, aggressive drivers and those that are not buckled up, according to an Indiana State Police press release.
The extra patrols are an effort to keep motorists safe over the holiday weekend. Five people were killed on Indiana roadways during the Fourth of July driving period last year, the ISP release says.
— Contributed