ATLANTA — In what is a welcome sign, the number of Americans projected to travel this Independence Day is slated to increase, AAA predicts.
Nationwide, AAA predicts a 17.1 percent increase in the number of travelers this Fourth of July compared to last year. In Georgia, the number of travelers this holiday is expected to increase by 11 percent.
“Overall, travel sentiment for Independence Day weekend is very high compared to last year, when the U.S. economy was in a very different place and Americans felt the strain of the recession,” Jessicsa Brady, manager of AAA public relations, said in a news release. “Optimism is high this year for Independence Day travel, as more Americans report they plan to travel this year since they stayed home last year, mainly for financial reasons.”
In Georgia, 834,641 of the 910,000 total travelers are expected to drive. Police statewide are planning to step up enforcement.