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AAA: Fewer to travel for July Fourth holiday
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A middle schooler's winning entry in a mural contest
depicting the dangers of texting while driving sponsored
by the Los Angeles Police Dept. | AAA photo
The big Fourth of July travel fireworks many in the industry are hoping for to boost their fortunes may turn out dimmer than hoped in 2009.
A 2.7 percent decline over the same time last year is projected among southern Californians for July Fourth travel, the Automobile Club of Southern California says.
That comes even though gas prices that are $1.50 lower than last year.
The good news for San Diego travel boosters is that this region ranks No. 1 among top five travel choices for southern Californians over the Fourth of July.
Here's the list, according to AAA:
1) San Diego
2) Las Vegas
3) Arizona (primarily Grand Canyon)
4) San Francisco
5) Central Coast (Santa Barbara to Monterey)
The raw numbers: More than 2.8 million regional residents are expected to travel during the July Fourth holiday. That's compared to 2.88 million last year.
A projected 82 percent of them (2.3 million) are expected to go by car, down 3.2 percent decline from last year. Note: If you are driving, handsets are the law for cell phones. Far too many folks on southern California roadways continue to flaunt that law.
Some 226,000 travelers are expected to fly, up 1.9 percent from last year," an Auto Club spokesman says. "But the decline is not nearly as pronounced as last year because gas prices are much lower and travel bargains are abundant.”
Air travel shows a slight gain because of "cheaper fares and vacation deals," he says.
The sound advice from the Auto Club to those going via motor vehicle: Plan your routes ahead of time and call the below Highway Patrol's information line to make sure the coast is clear.
Also, be mindful of current gas prices hereabouts.
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