Just like EVERYTHING ELSE in 2020, this year’s Labor Day travel is going to look a little different.
The AAA’s Nick Jarmusz says, “This is probably going to be significantly lower than what we’ve seen for recent past Labor Day weekends, but probably still busier than what you would see for a typical weekend.”
Federal data does suggest that we are crawling back to pre-pandemic volume on the roads, something I’ve been noticing too anecdotally looking at the cameras every day.
The lower-than-normal volume is also affecting this year’s gas prices.
Jarmusz says, “We’re going into Labor Day weekend with the lowest prices we’ve seen since 2007.”
There should still be an up-tick in prices compared to earlier this year, but for the most part,
“We’re going to continue to see lower gas prices than we’ve seen in previous years.” explains Jarmusz.
So with the lighter volume and the lower gas prices, now’s the time to head out for your end of the summer hurrah road trip.
To make sure you’re ready for the event, AAA provides a list of tips:
· Prep your vehicle. Some vehicles may have sat unused for months so you’ll want to have them inspected.
· Plan stops. Destinations and businesses may have adjusted their hours of operation.
· Pack cleaning supplies and face coverings. Some regions have ordinances requiring the use of masks.
· Pack food and water. This could reduce the number of times you need to go to the store.
· Pull out of the traffic lanes if your car breaks down. If faced with a vehicle emergency, safely steer your car off the roadway. Turn on the emergency flashers to alert other drivers and exit the vehicle on the side facing away from traffic if possible. Once everyone is in a safe location, request assistance from a road service provider.
