AAA says more than one-million Marylanders are heading out this year.
Towson, Md (KM) A record breaking number of Americans are traveling 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day period, which is from Wednesday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 7th. AAA says nearly 49-million Americans are heading out for the holiday, which is a 4.1% increase or two-million more compared to 2018. Over one-million Marylanders are traveling during the July 4th period, and that’s a 3.8% jump over last year.
Spokeswoman Ragina Ali says the Independence Day period is often a time when many Americans travel to celebrate the Fourth. “Kids are out of school now. So parents and families are more likely to travel as a group,” she says. “That being said, we are seeing lower gas price as well.”.
Ali says the national average is $2.68 per gallon. “Here in Maryland we’re doing a little bit better. We’re paying $2.58 per gallon, and that’s 21-cents less than this time last year,” she says.
But that could change if tensions continue to increase in the Persian Gulf. “This morning {Wed} it was announced that the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery in Philadelphia will be shutting down permanently within the next month. That’s comes on the heels of two fires and an explosion at that refinery has seen over the last two weeks,”says Ali.
AAA says the permanent shutdown of that refinery will likely mean modest increases in gasoline prices as the summer travel season takes off. That facility is the oldest and largest refinery on the east coast.
The auto club says most Americans will be traveling by car for the Independence Day Weekend. Ali says it’s important for those travelers to get their vehicles checked out before taking that trip. “AAA expects to rescue nearly 367,000 motorists at the roadside over this Independence Day Holiday,” she says. “Here in Maryland, just last year, AAA Mid-Atlantic came to the rescue of nearly 9,500 drivers in the state of Maryland.”
The auto club reminds motorists to be ready for any emergencies by taking along a mobile phone and car charger, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, a basic tool kit, and drinking water and snacks for you and your passengers.
By Kevin McManus