Fewer travelers expected to hit roadways this Labor Day weekend

LIMA - Blame a sagging economy and high gas prices, but fewer motorists are expected to hit the roadways this Labor Day weekend. Already high fuel prices may take another hit if Gustav, a tropical storm brewing in the Caribbean, heads for the oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

More than 34 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home, according to AAA Ohio Auto Club spokeswoman Joanna Herncane. The number is nearly 1 percent fewer than the number that traveled during the holiday last year.

"Gas prices topping the $4 a gallon threshold was really the limit for people in terms of when they started to change their driving habits," Herncane said. "That's when we could see people altering their travel plans."

If the trend holds up, Labor Day will be the third straight holiday travel period this year with a year-to-year decline in travelers, Herncane said. The trend began with Memorial Day when gas prices first broke through the $4 barrier, she said.

Despite slightly lower numbers of travelers expected, law enforcement and community officials are still urging those with travel plans to be safe and make smart decisions.

"We're going to be stressing the concern about keeping people safe. As you know, the holiday weekend can be one of the most dangerous and deadly weekends of the year," said Kathy Schroeder, coordinator of Putnam County Safe Communities. "During these times there is increased traffic and there appears to be an increase in impaired driving. We don't want any fatalities, any time. We don't want people hurt or people killed in our county."

Law enforcement officers will be out in force looking for impaired drivers throughout the weekend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration more than 11,000 agencies are participating in an aggressive campaign to get impaired drivers off the roadways.

Statistics from the NHTSA show more than 13,000 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2006. Every 39 minutes and 40 times a day someone in the United States is killed in an impaired driving crash. It is a scenario local law enforcement officers want to avoid.

"As always don't drink and drive. If you're going to drink, designate a driver," said Lt. Pat Gehrisch, commander of the Lima post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. "Obey all traffic laws and don't be in a hurry. Just be very cognizant of your surroundings and what's going on."

Gas prices on Thursday in Ohio averaged $3.61 a gallon for regular unleaded, according to AAA. The price is 50 cents cheaper than during the Fourth of July but still more than 90 cents higher than the same time last year, Herncane said.

If Gustav strengthens into a major hurricane and heads toward the Louisiana and Texas coastlines, there could be hefty implications on the price at the pump, Herncane said.

"That's something that none of us can predict. But, if that happens it will definitely have an impact," she said. "It could have a pretty devastating impact on gas prices. It could also have no impact at all. We'll just have to wait and see."