Lower gas prices await holiday season drivers

By The Associated Press

Travelers marveling at low fuel prices may also want to keep an eye on the woods as they drive to their Thanksgiving destinations. In parts of Arkansas, about half of recent traffic crashes have been deer related.

Nationally, the AAA estimates 600,000 fewer people will be traveling this Thanksgiving, 41 million, which is down from 41.6 million last year, a 1.4 percent drop. But the Southeast region will have more travelers than any other region. The AAA counts people traveling 50 miles or more from home.

The AAA says 33.2 million people will travel by car, down 1.2 percent from 33.6 million last year.

Gasoline prices are more than $1 lower than a year ago, making travel less of a burden. But the AAA says the state of the economy is making it harder for people to travel and is keeping some people home.

The national average price for a gallon of unleaded, self-serve gasoline on Wednesday was $2.05, down from $3.09 a year ago and from $2.92 a month ago.

In Arkansas, Wednesday's average price for a gallon was $1.89. A year ago the price was $3.01 and a month ago, $2.70.

Safety officials are issuing the usual warnings for drivers to stay alert, allow enough time and not do things like follow to closely or drive without wearing a seat belt.

Authorities are also cautioning drivers to watch for deer.

State police Lt. Barry Saffold said half of crashes in Arkansas, Desha, Jefferson and Lincoln counties in the past month involved a deer. The animals are in their mating season and bucks chasing does often fail to look both ways before crossing the highway.

In many cases in which there is severe damage or injury, it's because a driver swerves upon seeing the deer and hits a tree or another obstruction. Saffold said it is safer to hit the deer.

Saffold said motorists in wooded areas should keep speed to a minimum and be aware of surroundings.

A recent insurance company study placed Arkansas among the top states where deer-vehicle crashes are likely, with 1 in 108 Arkansas drivers likely to be in a deer-related crash this year.

Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department spokesman Glenn Bolick said the highways in the state will largely be clear of construction delays. The most likely slowdown will be at West Memphis, where work is under way on the Interstate 40 bridge.

On Interstate 540 in Washington County, bridge repairs are taking place near Fayetteville, affecting north and south lanes.

Lane closures are found at two sites on Interstate 30 in Miller County, including a job at the state line that requires traffic to be stopped at 10- to 15-minute intervals.

On I-40 in Faulkner County, shoulder work is affecting a two-mile stretch of the westbound inside lane.

In Jefferson County, part of Interstate 530 is being resurfaced near Redfield.

According to the AAA, the Southeast will have 8.8 million people traveling this Thanksgiving. Next is the West with 6.9 million; Midwest, 6.5 million; Great Lakes, 6.1 million; and Northeast, 4.8 million.

The auto club says 3.26 million Americans, 8 percent of holiday travelers, plan to travel by bus, train or other mode. That's up 5.8 percent from a year ago from those who traveled by a mode other than automobile or airplane last year.

Air travel is forecast to drop by 7.2 percent, with the AAA saying 4.54 million, 11 percent of holiday travelers, plan to fly.