ASHEBORO N.C. – Today marks the start of one of the busiest holiday travel seasons of the year. AAA says they predict around 47.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday weekend from June 30th to July 4th.
That number is up 3.7% over 2021, bringing the number of travelers just shy of the numbers in 2019, prior to most COVID-19 Stay at Home orders.
In preparation for the increase in holiday travel, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program has started its annual Fourth of July Booze It & Lose It campaign, this year known as ‘Operation Firecracker’.
Troopers with the State Highway Patrol will have an increased its presence across North Carolina to stop or discourage unsafe drivers.
NCDOT has also suspended most road construction projects with lane closures, to reduce traffic congestion during the busy holiday weekend.