Dip in travelers doesn't mean open roads, empty airports

Experts are advising travelers this Labor Day weekend to stick to the basics - get to the airport in plenty of time, go slowly in construction zones and don't drink and drive.

AAA is forecasting a busy holiday although the number of people on the road and in the air is down from 2008. The number of Americans taking a trip more than 50 miles from home this weekend is projected at 39.1 million, a drop of 6 million from a year ago, the agency predicted.

The dip is largely due to the fact Labor Day is later than usual and school has started in many districts, unlike 2008 when the holiday was on Sept. 1, leading to the highest travel numbers in the decade.

"Even though travel is down, there are still 39 million people traveling," AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher said Wednesday.

"So leave enough time to get where you need to go and travel safely. There's a lot of people on the roads. There's a lot of construction."

Fortunately, fuel costs are also on a downward trend, with prices for regular gasoline at an average of $2.68 per gallon in Illinois versus $3.87 last year.

Labor Day numbers are expected to exceed those from the July 4 holiday weekend, which had 37.1 million travelers, according to the AAA.

Fliers this Labor Day will total 1.5 million, the lowest amount this decade, while the number of people traveling in a vehicle is increasing. But the decrease doesn't mean there won't be lines at O'Hare or Midway.

"You need to give yourself plenty of time," U.S. Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Lara Uselding said, adding that early morning and late afternoon are particularly busy periods. She also reminded people with carry-on luggage that liquids must be in containers of 3 ounces or less in 1-quart size, clear plastic bags.

In Illinois, about 17 percent of the population, 2.3 million people, will take trips this holiday, a decline of 21.5 percent from 2008.

Over the long weekend, the Illinois Tollway is suspending temporary lane closures from noon Friday to Tuesday morning. But tollway officials reminded drivers 45 mph speed limits are still in effect in construction zones.

Illinois State Police and local law enforcement will be beefing up patrols and roadside safety checks to look for impaired drivers.

At "backyard barbecues and family parties, everyone is responsible to take the keys away if someone's had too much to drink," Mosher cautioned.

The police vigilance will also extend to state waterways, with Illinois Department of Natural Resources staff increasing efforts to crack down on drunken boaters.