AAA expects drop in Fourth of July travel

Holiday revelers burned by high gas prices are more likely than they have been in years to catch Fourth of July fireworks from home rather than hitting the road for the three-day weekend, according to predictions from AAA.

Local festivities for the Fourth of July

For the first time this decade, fewer Americans are expected to travel for the Fourth of July, AAA officials said.

The auto club's annual Independence Day travel survey shows that an estimated 40.4 million Americans will travel 50 or more miles from home this holiday weekend. That is a decrease of just over one percent, or 550,000 fewer travelers, from last year.

Among western states, including Arizona, about 10.5 million people are expected to travel for the long holiday weekend, according to AAA Arizona. That represents a drop of nearly 1 percent from last year.

Of those planning to go out of town, 8.5 million will be getting there in a car or recreational vehicle, while 1.7 million will travel by air.

The last time the West experienced a drop in Independence Day travel was in 2001.

Specific estimates for Arizona residents were not available.

Gas prices that top $4 per gallon are the obvious reason people are less likely to hit the road, according to AAA.

"This is what we were expecting with travel, given the continued rise in gas prices," said Michelle Donati, public affairs specialist for AAA Arizona.

To avoid having a Fourth of July trip turn into a dud, people planning to drive this weekend should make sure their cars are ready for the road, said Bob Cook, manager of Advanced Auto Service & Tire Center in Chandler. With gas prices so high, some people have been scrimping on maintenance and repairs, a bad idea when a long drive is planned, he said.

"Our preventative maintenance is down 10 to 15 percent of what it was last year at this time," Cook said. "It's the old 'if it's not broke, they aren't fixing it.' We recommend preventative maintenance, but more and more people can't afford it. They're going to buy gas and keep wearing out their cars and try to keep them running as long as they can. It's a Catch-22. They have to buy gas to get to work, but they think they can wait on maintenance until they absolutely need it."

Donati said dead batteries are a common frustration for motorists, a caution based on the calls AAA received over the Memorial Day weekend.

"Doing preventative maintenance would have caught some of that," Donati said. "It's hard to say what we'll see."

For those who are not planning to get too far out of town, camping, boating and fishing will likely be among popular holiday activities.

Fires are generally prohibited throughout the Tonto National Forest, but are allowed within developed campgrounds at the lakes on the Salt and Verde rivers, and in Forest Service fire grates in other campgrounds. Use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns and heating devices is allowed.

Prescott National Forest restrictions include no cooking or campfires of wood, charcoal or coal except within developed recreation sites where grills and campfire rings are provided. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters are allowed. Smoking is prohibited except within enclosed vehicles, buildings or developed recreation sites cleared of all flammable material.

Travel tips

AAA Arizona has suggestions for those traveling this Fourth of July weekend:

Have your vehicle professionally inspected before making a long drive.

Check levels of engine oil, the automatic transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid.

Replace worn windshield wipers.

Make sure all vehicle lights and turn signals work.

Make sure battery cables are secure and terminals are free of corrosion.

Check the drive belts and radiator and heater.

Check and adjust tires.

Plan ahead by getting maps and routing.

Carry a small first aid kit, your vehicle's owners manual, a flashlight and a tire pressure gauge.

Restrictions and camping tips online

www.azstateparks.com

www.publiclands.org/firenews

www.azfireinfo.com

http://resources.kaboose.com/kidslinks/sports/camp/camptips.html

http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/