Gas cost dropping as holiday travelers on roads

Record numbers of people will take to the roads this holiday weekend as gasoline prices have inched lower, and state agencies and law enforcement officials warn drivers to be extra vigilant.

"Give the road your undivided attention, give yourself plenty of time and slow down, don't be in a hurry," said Sgt. Rick Schmidt with the Cape Girardeau Police Department. "Put your seat belt on and keep your kids in their properly installed seat."

AAA of Missouri estimates 37.2 million people will be traveling this weekend, up 2.2 percent from last year. The automobile association estimates 31.1 million will travel by car, 4.2 million will take to the skies, up 3.2 percent from last year, and the remaining 2 million will use other forms of transportation.

Gasoline prices do not seem to be deterring travelers, said AAA spokesman Mike Right, in part perhaps because prices have actually come down a bit since peaking on April 11. Then the average cost per gallon of unleaded was $2.21 statewide and $2.27 nationally.

In Missouri, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas is $1.93 as prices crept up slightly Thursday, but that average was still a penny less than last year at the same time. Nationally, unleaded is selling for $2.11, up from last year's price of $2.05 a gallon.

In St. Louis, regular unleaded was selling for $1.91 a gallon, a penny less than last year at the same time. In Kansas City, unleaded was selling for $1.90, which is 7 cents less than last year.

With that many people on the roads, Right said drivers need to get plenty of rest so they are alert, check that vehicles are road-worthy and use seat belts.

Last year, there were more than 1,300 traffic accidents resulting in 13 deaths and 573 injuries over the holiday period, which runs from Friday at 6 p.m. to midnight Monday, said Don Hillis, director of operations for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Though MoDOT is shutting down construction on the interstates in the state over the weekend, Hillis warns that a few work zones will remain in place in Southeast Missouri.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

lcianci@semissourian.com

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