Travelers will pour onto the highways as they celebrate the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend.
Police will share the highways, watching for speeders and drunken drivers on what is always one of the most lethal holiday weekends of the year.
AAA Cincinnati projects an estimated 32.1 million people will travel 100 miles or more from home this weekend, , with more than half going to a distant city or beach. The number of travelers is up 1 percent from last year and up 6 percent from 1996.
"The increase in summer travel is a direct response to the surging economic situation," said Irena Derrick of AAA Cincinnati.
"Interest rates and unemployment are at record lows, consumer confidence is high, the stock market is growing, and all those combined with low fuel costs are creating this perfect setting for the excellent travel season that we're seeing and expecting this year."
But more drivers usually means more accidents.
During the Memorial Day weekend last year, 16 people were killed in Ohio crashes.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than half of all car crashes nationwide on Memorial Day last year were related to alcohol.
For the three major summer holidays, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, the Ohio State Highway Patrol targets drunk drivers. Last year in Ohio, 606 people were arrested for drunken driving on the three-day Memorial Day weekend, said Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. John Born.
"We're trying to reduce fatalities over the three most popular summer weekends," said Lt. Born. "High visibility, enforcement, education and awareness will help protect people."
There will be some good news for travelers: gas prices are down an average of 15.5 cents a gallon from last year.
Gas prices in the Greater Cincinnati area range from $1.13 per gallon for regular to $1.33 per gallon for premium. This compares to the national averages of $1.09 per gallon for regular and $1.24 per gallon for premium.
The unofficial summer season will be longer than usual because Memorial Day will be celebrated on the earliest possible day and Labor Day on the latest possible day.
