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Travelling This Weekend? AAA Says Many Aren't
We'll see more back yard barbecues this Memorial Day weekend as many folks are choosing to stay home rather than travel.



"Travel numbers are down, but just a little bit," says Beth Mosher, spokeswoman for the Aurora-based AAA Chicago Motor Club. "It's very telling to us that gas prices and the slumping economy have really started to hit people."



AAA says estimated travel numbers are down this year from 2007. Mosher says the current travel forecast for this holiday weekend is worse than a decline after the terrorist attacks of 2001.


Mosher says if you are making a road trip, plan ahead, and take it easy. "Slow down out there. Don't be in a rush to get there," Mosher says. "For every five mph you go over 60 mph, it's like adding another 20 cents per gallon to your tank. Before you go, get your car maintained and check your tire pressure. If your car is not maintained your engine is just going to have to work harder."


An estimated 38 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend, a decrease of nearly 360,000 travelers, or roughly 1 percent. AAA says almost 4.35 million Americans will travel by air, and about 1.8 million will travel by train or bus. In Illinois, 1.5 million people will be traveling, 186,500 of those by plane.
05 23 08 by Newsroom
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