Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - What a difference a year meks.
AAA projects more Americans will travel this holiday weekend compared to a year ago, when the nation was in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. AAA says the road trip is the most popular choice.
AAA expects more than 37 million people to travel more than 50 miles for Memorial Day. "The numbers are up 60 percent from last year, when many people weren't traveling," says Elizabeth Carey of AAA of Western and Central New York. "But we're not quite back to the 2019 numbers, we're down 13 percent from 2019 numbers.'
With 34 million Americans planning Memorial Day road trips, Carey says auto travel is expected to increase 52% compared to 2020. "Nearly 12 million more Americans will travel by car this holiday than in 2020, though this is still 9% less than in 2019. More than 9 in 10 Memorial Day travelers will drive to their destinations, as the good old-fashioned road tripremains popular," notes Carey.
AAA says daily car rental rates have doubled compared to last Memorial Day, topping out at $134. AAA notes some consumers have experienced high costs and limited availability of rental cars in some markets, because rental companies selling off their fleet last year and now the chip shortage impacting auto manufacturers limiting inventory among rental companies.
April Engram of AAA says if you do go on the road, expect to pay more at the pump. "The national gas price average is $3.04, New York's is $3.08. Buffalo remains at $3 a gallon," says Engram.
Another issue law enforcement will look at is driving while impaired. Marijuana is now legal, but driving after using it is not, says State Police Trooper James O'Callaghan. "If there's an impaired driver, we'll have dedicated patrols to look for impaired drivers, whether it's alcohol or marijuana," says O'Callaghan.
O'Callaghan says police are prepared for any uptick in impaired driving. "There should always be a plan. The fact is, if you're going to use marijuana or alcohol, don't try and drive and risk taking someone's life," warns O'Callaghan.
