Heading Out for Labor Day? Find Out How to Travel Cheaply and Safely - Twin Falls Times-News
Twenty area high school football teams hit the gridiron Friday, and the Broncos open the college football season against Georgia on Saturday — it's going to be a good weekend to stick around town or a TV.
But for the more than 27 million Americans AAA estimates will hit the road for Labor Day weekend, summer's last hurrah means a good amount of wheel time on some potentially unfamiliar roads, the stress of dealing with traffic, and potential heartburn at the gas pump.
Here are a couple tips for safe holiday travel over the long weekend.
Get there on the cheap
Dave Carlson, Idaho's AAA spokesman, said Gem State residents are paying an average of $3.68 per gallon of regular gasoline — about 69 cents more per gallon than we paid a year ago.
That's above the $3.62 national per-gallon average, so knowing where to find a deal on gas is important for motorists planning excursions across the nation's roadways. If you're really into pinching pennies, gas discount cards at places you shop may be the way to go, but you can still check area gas prices at AAA's website.
It could be worth the effort. On Thursday, prices for a gallon of gas within Twin Falls ranged from $3.619 to $3.759. Of all the county hubs in south-central Idaho, Burley boasted Thursday's lowest gas price — $3.539 at Smith's.
Get there safely
As is customary with every holiday weekend, Idaho law enforcement will be out in force on the state's roadways through Monday.
Officers will be especially vigilant of impaired drivers through a nationwide mobilization targeting drunk driving through Sept. 6. The Idaho Transportation Department will administer federal grant money to cover overtime costs associated with the additional patrols.
"Designate a sober driver and give up those car keys, arrange for alternative transportation, don't let someone drive that you know is impaired, and always wear your seat belt," ITD Office of Highway Safety spokesman Kevin Bechen said in a written release.
ITD said nearly half of all Idaho fatalities last year were the result of impaired driving.
If you spot a drunken driver, Idaho lawmen say find a safe place to pull over and dial *ISP — or *477.
When you return home
You've made it back from the lake, campground or grandparents' house — time to quit worrying about driving safely, right?
Not if you're driving anywhere near a school zone. With many area schools opening to students on Tuesday, local police will be out in force to make sure students and vehicle bumpers stay clear of each other.
The Twin Falls Police Department reminds drivers that 20 mph school zones are in effect from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in most cases. Speeding through one could land you a $151.50 ticket.
Motorists should watch for pedestrians around schools, and parents should remind their children to use crosswalks and always look both ways before crossing a street, Twin Falls police say.
02 Sep, 2011--
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