Low gas prices expected to lead to more drivers on the road this Labor Day weekend
South Carolina residents will take to the roads over Labor Day weekend in droves thanks to the lowest gas prices in over a decade, according to a news release from AAA Carolinas.
More than 390,000 drivers are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, as gas prices dipped to an average $2.01 per gallon statewide, the release said. Drivers were paying about $1.15 more per gallon in 2014 and about 43 cents more over the July 4 weekend.
In Beaufort County, gas prices were slightly higher--about $2.18 in southern Beaufort County and $2.24 in northern Beaufort County, according to gas price monitoring site GasBuddy.
Gas prices in neighboring states were about the same as those in Beaufort County: $2.22 in North Carolina, $2.28 in Georgia, $2.18 in Virginia, and $2.14 in Tennessee, the AAA Carolinas release said.
In total, 455,500 South Carolina residents are expected to travel in some fashion, a slight increase over 2014 but the highest number of travelers in seven years, the news release said.
As drivers take to the roads for the long weekend, state and local agencies are increasing their presence on local roads.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office special enforcement unit will be out supplementing the agency's regular road patrols, spokesman Capt. Bob Bromage said. Marine and beach patrols will also be out watching local beaches and waterways, he said.
On Friday night, the S.C. Highway Patrol will set up a checkpoint on U.S. 17 at the Tallmadge Memorial Bridge to Savannah in conjunction with the Georgia Highway Patrol, spokeswoman Trooper Hannah Wimberly said.
Highway Patrol will also increase their presence on highways such as U.S. 278 and Interstate 95.
Unannounced checkpoints will also be set up over the weekend and the agency will push its target initiatives, enforcing seatbelt laws, speeding, and driving under the influence, Wimberly said.
The S.C. Department of Transportation will suspend and prohibit lane closures from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Sept. 8, according to a department news release.
The AAA Carolinas release also urged drivers to expect traffic around Darlington, S.C., the site of NASCAR's Southern 500 race Sept. 6.
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This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Low gas prices expected to lead to more drivers on the road this Labor Day weekend."