Allison Stice covers crime and courts for the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. She graduated from the University of Maryland and has lived in the Ivory Coast and France. | More than a million South Carolinians will hit the roads this holiday — making Dec. 22 through Jan. 1 one of the deadliest travel times of the year, according to AAA Carolinas.
In 2010-2011, the last year that data is available, 68 people died on South Carolina roads during the holidays. This averages to 6.2 fatalities per day — nearly three times higher than the daily average of 2.2 traffic fatalities during the rest of the year, a news release said.
Due to decreasing gas prices and lower airfares, holiday travel in South Carolina is expected to increase by 2% this year, which could lead to congestion.
Of the 1.3 million South Carolinians are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home, 90% will drive, according to AAA. Gas prices are also expected to remain stable or slightly decrease, with South Carolina having the second-cheapest gas in the country at an average of $3.03.
If you’re planning a trip, you can visit fuelcostcalculator.com and input starting city, destination, and the make and model of your car to find out how much it will cost you in gas.
The free AAA Mobile app for iPhone and Android devices uses GPS navigation to help travelers map a route, find updated gas prices, view nearby member discounts and access AAA roadside assistance.
And remember: Don’t drink and drive, and report motorists who do.