Shops Can Expect to Get a Bit Busier this Week
By Ed Sunkin
6/23/2010
Fourth of July holiday travelers are expected to increase over last year, which could mean more drivers stopping by for vehicle checkups before hitting the roads.
AAA projects the number of Americans traveling this Fourth of July holiday weekend will increase 17.1% from 2009, with approximately 34.9 million travelers taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home.
Last year, 29.8 million Americans traveled during the same period. The 2010 Fourth of July holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, July 1 to Monday, July 5.
This could mean more drivers stopping by your shop for a vehicle checkup before hitting the roads.
"While financial markets continue to have volatility related to the European debt crisis, the landscape of the U.S. economy is in a much different place than it was one year ago," said Glen MacDonell, director, AAA Travel Services. "It is encouraging to see such growth this summer as Americans take to the road to visit family, friends and great vacation destinations."
MacDonell added, "AAA travel agents continue to report double-digit increases in the percentage of travelers making advanced reservations for cruises, and vacation packages and online hotel bookings via AAA.com are up over last year – all of which are positive signs pointing to an increase in the number of Americans traveling this Fourth of July holiday."
Trips by automobile are expected to increase in popularity with 90% of travelers, or 31.4 million people, reaching their destination by driving. This is an increase of 17.7% from last Fourth of July when 26.7 million travelers went by motor vehicle.
AAA expects the national average price of self-serve regular gasoline to be between $2.70-$2.80 per gallon during this Fourth of July holiday weekend. Leisure air travel also is expected to grow slightly with 1.56 million holiday flyers expected.
This would be an increase of 8.2% from one year ago when 1.44 million flew. Trips by other modes, including rail, bus and watercraft, will be the dominant means of travel used by six percent of all travelers.
AAA also cautions that the Fourth of July marks the busiest travel holiday for emergency roadside services calls. As temperatures rise, vehicles are put to the test. Without preventive maintenance the summer heat increases the likelihood of a motorist experiencing a vehicle failure, leaving them unexpectedly - and dangerously - stranded on the side of the road.
AAA expects it will come to the aid of 520,000 stranded motorists during the holiday weekend. Batteries can be especially affected by heat and AAA anticipates it will replace 30,000 auto batteries on the roadside and jump start an additional 60,000 during the holiday weekend. The nation's largest motor club also will aid 85,000 motorists locked out of their vehicles and change 75,000 flat tires.
To decrease the likelihood of break down, AAA recommends motorists have their vehicle serviced regularly based on the manufacturer's recommended schedule and identify a quality repair shop — which is good news for shops like yours.