We're coming up on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, as families try to get away one last time, before summer turns to fall.
In Utah, a lot of folks will be leaving town, but not as many as in previous years.
Keith McCord explains why.
It's not a huge drop.. maybe one percent, according to AAA of Utah--that compares to the national average.
But AAA also is noticing another trend-- and that is how people will travel this weekend.
Statistics show that the Labor Day weekend is the fifth busiest travel period of the year in the United States.
It'll be plenty busy again this weekend-- one out of every seven people in Utah will head out of town. That's about 304,000 of us.
But, it's the way in which we'll travel that's a bit different.
Rolayne Fairclough/AAA Utah: "BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT WE'VE SEEN A 7 PERCENT INCREASE IN THOSE THAT ARE TRAVELLING BY TRAIN OR BUS."
This is the first time that AAA has seen such an increase in train or bus travel.
A couple of reasons why: safety concerns, and economics.
Rolayne Fairclough/AAA Utah: "WE FIND WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THEY TEND TO DECREASE THEIR PLANE TRAVEL AND INCREASE THEIR AUTOMOTIVE OR OTHER TRAVEL."
Most people will travel in their own vehicles.
So, where's everybody going?
- Nearly a quarter will head to another town or rural area
- 21 percent will go to the beach
- Mountains, lakes and campgrounds will be visited by 11 percent.
And, if you're headed to a campground, better get going because the sites are going fast!
Dean Snelson/Campground Host: "THAT'S ALL THERE IS LEFT. SO THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE WILL BE FULL THIS WEEKEND."
As far as gasoline prices go, not much of a change from the July 4th period. Figure an *average* of $1.50 in Utah and higher in places like St. George and Moab.
For those who are going to fly, you may notice something missing at the check-in counter. The agents will no longer be asking if you packed your own bags; or if a stranger has asked you to carry an item on the plane.
The Transportation Security Agency says the questions really didn't do much, except create a hassle!
Gate agents have been asking those questions for 16 years!
Now, this weekend, maybe they'll ask: "So where are you going?"
Aug. 29, 2002
