AAA Mid-Atlantic projects that approximately 1.2 million New Jersey residents will travel 50 miles or more from home during the upcoming July 4th holiday, an increase of 1.3% compared to those who traveled for Independence Day 2013. The majority of travelers will be celebrating their freedom with a road trip, with more than eight in 10 (1 million) choosing to travel by automobile. Nationally, 41 million Americans will travel for the July 4th holiday. The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, July 2 to Sunday, July 6.

“With school out for summer, the Fourth of July holiday is typically the busiest summer travel holiday, with 300,000 more New Jerseyans traveling for Independence Day compared to Memorial Day just a little over a month ago,” said Tracy E. Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “In line with tradition, most travelers are celebrating their newfound summer freedom with an all-American road trip.”

Travel by Mode of Transportation:

Automobile

· New Jersey – 1,055,072 (84.5% of travelers), an increase of 1.9% from last year

· Nationally – 34.8 million (84.9% of travelers), up 2.2% from 2013

Air

New Jersey – 93,733 (7.5% of travelers), a decrease of 0.6% from those who flew in 2013
Nationally – 3.1million (7.6% of travelers), an increase of 1% from last Fourth of July

Train, Bus, Watercraft or Other Mode

New Jersey – 99,782 (8% of travelers), a decrease of 3.2% from 2013
Nationally – 3.1 million (7.5% of travelers), down 0.6% from last year.

AAA expects the majority of U.S. drivers likely will pay the highest gas prices for Independence Day since 2008. Today’s national average price of gas is about 20 cents per gallon more expensive than the average on July 4, 2013, which was $3.49 per gallon. In recent years, gas prices have declined in the weeks leading up to Independence Day, but this has not occurred this summer due to high crude oil costs resulting from violence in Iraq. AAA does not believe that high gas prices will have a significant impact on the number of people traveling, but it could result in some consumers cutting back on dining, shopping or other trip activities. AAA provides the latest gas prices for the nation, states and metro areas at FuelGaugeReport.AAA.com.

Motorists will find the average price of gasoline at $3.57 per gallon in New Jersey, $3.93 in New York, $3.78 in Pennsylvania, and $3.66 in Delaware.

New Jersey Gas Prices on July 4th for the past 5 years:

· $3.35 in 2013

· $3.28 in 2012

· $3.56 in 2011

· $2.60 in 2010

· $2.52 in 2009

Finally, AAA reminds motorists that temperatures inside parked cars can quickly reach dangerous levels putting unattended children and pets at high risk.

· Never leave children or animals unattended in a car—not even for a short period of time. Outside air temperatures in the nineties can rise to 125 degrees inside the vehicle within 20 minutes causing brain damage or death.

· When parked, use a sun shield to cover the windshield to minimize heat buildup and to help protect the car’s interior. Cover metal and plastic parts on seat belts and child safety seats to prevent burns.

· Open the vehicle’s doors and let the interior cool for a few minutes before entering. [TLS]