Fewer travellers expected for upcoming Labor Day weekend

Despite a decline in gas prices in recent weeks, fewer motorists are expected to take to the highway for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, according to AAA Carolinas.

About 352,000 South Carolina drivers are expected to hit the road this weekend, a nearly 1 percent decrease from the number of travelers during the holiday last year. An estimated 70,300 Palmetto State residents will travel by air.

"Travelers earlier this summer saw gas prices hit new record highs almost daily and it forced many of them to change their vacation plans," said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas.

Record prices for unleaded gasoline this summer pushed thousands of drivers nationwide to change their means of travel.

The Memorial and Independence Day holidays have been two of the largest travel days of the year, with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, AAA Carolinas found a significant downturn in the number of travelers on the highway this year due to high gas prices.

"We chose not to travel for the July 4th holiday," said Cherokee County resident Terry Evans. "Instead, we just called some family over and put some things on the grill."

Prior to the threat to Gulf coast oil rigs and refineries by Hurricane Gustav, South Carolina's average price per gallon of gas is one of the lowest in the country. The state's average was $3.445, a decrease of 42 cents (about 11 percent) per gallon since July 4 but 93 cents a gallon more than last Labor Day. That price jumped 10 cents or more per gallon on Thursday.