On the road again: Busy Labor Day weekend expected on roadways

Source: The Lima News, OhioAug.存倉 31--LIMA -- People across America are taking advantage of the symbolic end of the summer, dedicated to celebrating the efforts of the nation's almost 156 million-strong workforce. Labor Day is the last chance for many to break out the barbecues, start watching football and enjoy the fruits of their work without having to return to it Monday.Many Americans will forgo the barbecue, looking to hit the road for that last summer getaway. Local law enforcement reminds motorists to drive safely with the increased traffic this weekend, with plans to be out in force on area roadways to enforce impaired driving laws.According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the state is on pace to set a record low in traffic fatalities, a trend the Patrol superintendent would like to see continue."With everyone's commitment to ensuring a safe Labor Day weekend, there is no reason why Ohio can't achieve fewer than 1,000 traffic fatalities in 2013," patrol Col. Paul A. Pride said in a statement.Ohio's previous record low was 1,014 traffic deaths, set in 2011. Ohio's confirmed number of traffic deaths this year is 568, with an additional 35 unconfirmed deaths, totaling 603. Last year at this time, there were 649 deaths on Ohio's roadways.During Labor Day weekend last year, 14 people died on the road, five of them involving an impaired driver. The Ohio Department of Transportation also reported that during that weekend, there were 185 alcohol-related crashes with 107 injuries, emphasizing the importance of staying sober on the road.ODOT, the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Allen County Sheriff's Office are participating in the nationwide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign to educate and encourage the public to take appropriate measures to prevent impaired driving.As well as avoiding impaired driving, drivers a迷你倉e encouraged to take extra care on the roads, as they will be more congested. According to AAA, approximately 29 million Americans will hit the road this weekend, including 1.3 million Ohioans. That is a 4.2 percent increase from Labor Day traffic last year.A contributing factor for this increase is the lower cost of fuel. A report from AAA noted the average price for gas nationwide last Labor Day weekend was $3.83 per gallon, the most expensive average ever for that weekend. This year, AAA reported the current price for gas in Ohio averaged $3.64 per gallon, an almost 20-cent drop from a year ago.Despite the downward trend in fuel costs, many local drivers had no plans to travel this weekend."I haven't seen much of an increase in customers for this weekend," said Kimberly Schaper, a gas station attendant at Murphy USA in Lima. "Honestly, we had more customers here for what was going on at the fairgrounds the last couple of weeks. Plus, the construction has been keeping some people away."That construction around I-75 is still causing many delays around state Route 309, but ODOT announced that no lane closures will occur throughout the project area between today and Labor Day.That, along with state Route 309 east of I-75 opening two lane traffic in both directions, should help steady the flow of traffic in that area. The interstate will also maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction from just south of Fourth Street to state Route 81.This holiday weekend will look different for many in the area. While some may join the millions of Americans looking for a change of scenery this weekend, many still want to avoid the congestion, the construction, and the consternation at the pumps. For them, the barbecue awaits.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Lima News (Lima, Ohio) Visit The Lima News (Lima, Ohio) at .limaohio.com Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉