About 33 million people nationwide will travel this Memorial Day weekend by car, according to AAA. Robert Sinclair, AAA’s Northeast region spokesman, said the numbers in this travel forecast are the highest the company has seen in the past 10 years.
“And we’re thinking that because of the economy being better, with gasoline prices being cheaper, and with lots of folks having new vehicles, that’s the reason we are seeing so many people traveling,” said Sinclair. “[There is] a lot of pent up demand especially after a long, hard winter.”
Sinclair anticipates the company will respond to 350,000 roadside calls starting today through Monday.
“And the top items we get calls for are flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts,” he said. He recommends inspecting tires and batteries before hitting the road, and carrying a spare car key.
“And certain items you can carry to help yourself if you get into trouble: jumper cables and basic tools, screw drivers, pliers,” added Sinclair. “Probably most important thing, though, is a charged cell phone, so that you could call for help if you do run into trouble.”
Sinclair reminds people to drive safely: don’t drink and drive, and buckle up.
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