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Record Number of Travelers Expected This Weekend

AAA is forecasting a record number of Americans will travel 50 miles or more this holiday weekend.

"AAA expects about 43 million Americans for the Independence Day weekend. That's going to be the highest on record," said Elizabeth Carey, Public Affairs Manager for AAA of Western and Central New York.

She says the vast majority of them are driving, thanks to gas prices in Rochester that are about 50 cents a gallon lower than a year ago.

"That's really fueling a lot of the travel.  that's people saying 'you know what I think I will fill up the tank and head out on a trip with the family,' " she said.

At the same time, AAA is reminding motorists to be careful on those crowded roads this weekend.

Credit aaa.com

"This is the time when we see a lot more people using the roads children outside playing, people riding bikes, a lot of people traveling.  So everyone should be a little more careful, we need to share the road and and we want everyone to celebrate their independence very safety this year," she said.

Carey also reminds drivers to check their car before that trip.

AAA is expected to rescue more than 370 thousand motorists during the holiday travel period.

The primary reasons are dead batteries, lockouts, and flat tires.