WASHINGTON, DC (Aug. 19, 2024) – This year’s record-breaking, blockbuster summer travel season comes to a close with many Americans exploring Alaska by cruise. According to AAA booking data, Seattle is the number one Labor Day weekend* destination, up nearly 30% from last year when it also topped the list. Anchorage and Juneau are also on the top ten list of Labor Day destinations.

“This is the time of year to go on an Alaska cruise,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “There are fewer crowds compared to earlier in the summer, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of fall colors! It’s no surprise Alaska cruises are sold out this Labor Day weekend.”

AAA travel experts say if you’re interested in going on an Alaska cruise next summer, the time to book is now to lock in the best rate and ensure you get the type of cabin you want.

According to AAA booking data, overall domestic travel over Labor Day weekend is up 9% compared to last year, while the cost to travel domestically is down 2%.Other top Labor Day destinations include Orlando, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco. For many families, Labor Day is the last hurrah before school begins. To make the most of those trips, AAA recommends identifying must-see sights and creating a flexible itinerary ahead of time. “Trip Canvas is a great free resource for travelers in the planning phase,” Twidale said. “You can find free things to do in Denver or the best museums in New York City.”

Travelers taking road trips should expect to pay less for gas compared to last year. The national average over Labor Day weekend in 2023 was $3.81. In recent weeks, gas prices have remained steady, hovering around $3.50. Despite the popularity of summer road trips, overall gas demand is down as daily driving habits have changed post-pandemic, preventing pump prices from spiking. Hurricanes hitting the Gulf and affecting regional refineries could cause gas prices to go up as the peak of the season approaches in September. For drivers taking road trips in their electric vehicles, AAA now offers information on the cost of Level 2 commercial EV charging and updates that data weekly.

International travel over Labor Day weekend is down 4% compared to last year, per AAA booking numbers, while the cost to travel internationally is up 11%. Most of those travelers are heading to Europe. Eight out of the top ten international destinations booked through AAA are European cities. Travelers renting a car abroad should consider getting an International Driving Permit (IDP), which translates their driver’s license information into 10 languages. Some countries – including Italy and Spain – require it. AAA is the only entity in the U.S. authorized by the State Department to issue an IDP.

Top Labor Day Destinations

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL Seattle, WA Vancouver, BC, Canada Orlando, FL Rome, Italy Anchorage, AK London, England New York, NY Paris, France Boston, MA Dublin, Ireland Las Vegas, NV Amsterdam, Netherlands Denver, CO Barcelona, Spain Chicago, IL Athens, Greece Juneau, AK Mexicali, Mexico San Francisco, CA Edinburgh, Scotland

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car over Labor Day Weekend

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says car travelers should avoid the afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, as those times will be the most congested. Drivers should hit the road in the morning unless they’re leaving on Saturday when the best time to travel by car is in the afternoon. Travelers returning on Sunday and on Labor Day should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon.

“Drivers should expect the most severe traffic jams before the holiday weekend as commuters mix with travelers,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Monitoring traffic apps, local news stations, and 511 traveler information services may help drivers navigate around congestion and reduce driver frustration this Labor Day.”

Worst and Best Times to Travel by Car Direction Date Worst Time Best Time Departing Thursday, Aug 29 1:00 – 7:30 PM Before 11 AM Friday, Aug 30 2:00 – 6:00 PM Before Noon, After 7 PM Saturday, Aug 31 8:00 – 11:00 AM After Noon Returning Sunday, Sep 1 Monday, Sep 2 2:00 – 8:00 PM 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Before Noon Before 10:00 AM Tuesday, Sep 3 8:00 AM – Noon After 1:00 PM

Source: INRIX

Peak Congestion by Metro Metro Route Peak Congestion Est. Travel Time Traffic Increase Atlanta Atlanta to Savannah via I-16 E Thursday 29th 1:45 PM 5 hours 1 minute 28% Boston Boston to Hyannis via Pilgrim Hwy S Thursday 29th 1:45 PM 1 hour 42 minutes 24% Chicago Chicago to Indianapolis via I-65 S Friday 30th 2:45 PM 5 hours 3 minutes 39% Denver Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 S Tuesday 3rd 7:30 AM 1 hour 24 minutes 36% Detroit Detroit to Grand Rapids via I-96 W Thursday 29th 1:30 PM 2 hours 59 minutes 20% Houston San Antonio to Houston via I-10 E Monday 2nd 1:30 PM 3 hours 52 minutes 30% Los Angeles Bakersfield to Los Angeles via I-5 S Monday 2nd 2:15 PM 1 hour 56 minutes 28% Minneapolis Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 W Monday 2nd 4:45 PM 1 hour 43 minutes 24% New York Jersey Shore to New York via Garden State Pkwy N Friday 30th 2:15 PM 1 hour 25 minutes 40% Philadelphia Poconos to Philadelphia via I-76/I-476 PA Turnpike Monday 2nd 8:30 AM 3 hours 23 minutes 35% Portland Eugene to Portland via I-5 N Monday 2nd 6:00 PM 2 hours 33 minutes 34% San Diego Palm Springs to San Diego via I-15 S Tuesday 3rd 9:45 AM 2 hours 29 minutes 15% San Francisco Sacramento to San Francisco via I-80 W Monday 2nd 4:45 PM 2 hours 4 minutes 23% Seattle Bellingham to Seattle via I-5 S Monday 2nd 3:45 PM 2 hours 5 minutes 24% Tampa Tampa to Orlando via I-4 E Saturday 31st 10:15 AM 1 hour 58 minutes 39% Washington, DC Baltimore to Washington, DC via Balt/Wash Pkwy S Monday 2nd 3:15 PM 1 hour 3 minutes 44%

Source: INRIX

*Labor Day Weekend

AAA looked at booking data for Thursday, August 29 through Monday, September 2, and compared those numbers with booking data for that same five-day period in 2023.

About AAA

Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA delivers exceptional roadside assistance, helps travelers plan their dream vacations and adventures, offers exclusive member discounts and benefits, and provides trusted financial and insurance services – all to enhance the life journey of our 64+ million members across North America, including over 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member, visit AAA.com.

About INRIX

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights. This revolutionary approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and analytics into how people move. By empowering cities, businesses, and people with valuable insights, INRIX is helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights. Learn more at INRIX.com.

BENGALURU: With the work on widening Varthur-Gunjur Main Road getting delayed due to issues like land acquisition and demolition of buildings, motorists commuting to and from Marathahalli on the stretch will have to bear with the crawl on the stretch for a few more months.

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Regular road users say that the narrow stretch is always jam-packed and it takes more than an hour to go from Varthur to Gunjur, when heading towards Outer Ring Road and Marathahalli.

The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) is widening the road from the existing 30m to 100m. A KRDCL official said that the work on their project to widen the 1.9-km stretch between Varthur and Gunjur began in April 2019 with a deadline of 30 months.

However, with delays in land acquisition, KRDCL has set a new deadline of July 2025 to finish the road widening work.

“Though the project work started in 2019, we stopped because of Covid-19 and we were majorly delayed due to the land acquisition process. Now, with a few properties yet to be acquired by BBMP, we hope to complete the process by March or April 2025 and finish the road widening work before the 2025 monsoon,” said the official.

Currently, KRDCL is acquiring properties on 1.5km of road by issuing cash compensation and the rest is being acquired by BBMP by issuing Transferable Development Rights.

According to KRDCL official, a total of 195 properties were marked for acquisition by them and cash compensation has been paid towards 98 properties. Seven properties are due to receive the compensation. The other 90 properties are yet to be acquired by KRDCL.

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The official said that KRDCL started the land acquisition process back in 2020. “We have completed almost 70% of land acquisition and demolition. We expect to start the proper road widening work after all the properties are demolished and this will take approximately one or two months,” added the official.

BBMP will take more time

The BBMP, which is responsible for acquiring properties on about 600 metres of the road, has just started the acquisition process and completed collecting objections.

Officials from BBMP said, “We are responsible for acquiring 143 properties. We have already issued the paper notification. After getting the consent, we will then survey the properties and proceed with TDR before taking up demolition works. It will take another two months for us to reach the demolition stage as these procedures need another paper notification and a 30-day waiting period.”

BBMP also said that those who have objections with TDR can always write to the zonal executive engineer asking for cash compensation and the same will be considered.

Commuters Quote

Nagraj, a resident of Varthur,

“The demolition work has been happening almost from the beginning of this year but it is going on very slowly. In fact, it looks like the work has paused. No matter if it is peak or normal hours, one thing that won’t change every day is traffic. I have lived in Varthur for close to 20 years, and I have seen the crowd increasing day by day… Now that there are so many apartments coming up, this road needs to be widened as a priority.

”

Jayadeesh Reddy, resident of Varthur,

“Another set of properties will be provided TDR by BBMP, and I don’t know how many of them will be okay with it and how much time it will take to acquire land. There are big apartments coming up, and believe it or not, sometimes, it takes at least one hour to just come out of Varthur village.”

I don’t know about you, but I hate when unnecessary stop signs get added to roads. For instance, I’m still not over the fact that a stop sign was added on Fulton Street in Poughkeepsie heading down towards Marist several years ago. I think it is in an awkward place and disrupts the flow of traffic in an unnatural way.

Why Add Stop Signs Where They Are Not Needed?

Not just that, but when it’s raining or it is icy in the winter, the stop sign is in a horrible position on the hill. If conditions are bad, people are prone to skid right through it. I’ve seen many cars unable to stop at that sign due to inclement weather, myself included.

Google Maps

But what gets me even more than a single random stop sign showing up someplace it shouldn’t is when four-way stops replace traffic lights. Again, keeping it around Poughkeepsie and the Marist community, they changed the traffic light at the intersection of East Cedar and Fairview (right by Fairview Park) into a four-way stop. The picture below is from 5 years ago, when it still functioned as a regular light. Now, there are stop signs, and the light is only there to blink red.

Google Maps

Now, another traffic light in Poughkeepsie is turning into another four-way stop. I’m talking about the intersection of Fulton and Inwood, pretty much smack dab between Marist College and Dutchess Community College. I’ve lived around here my whole life, and the light was fine! To be honest, very few people obeyed that, so what makes them think people will obey a four-way stop!

Conor Walsh

Proper Etiquette at a Four-Way Stop

Why change a traffic light to a four-way stop in the first place? According to Janicek Law, there are experts who claim that traffic signals actually increase the danger at intersections and that four-way stops should be used when possible. The reason is that stop signs decrease the speed at the intersection.

Conor Walsh

That is, in theory of course. From what I’ve witnessed while at four-way stops is that no one knows the right of way. Four cars coming from four different directions will sit there and look at each other, trying to figure out who should go. More often than not, multiple cars will pull out at the same time and nearly hit each other. That, and I’ll find that people blow through stop signs more than they blow through lights.

According to the Top Driver Driving School, when multiple vehicles reach a 4-way stop at the same time, there are 3 rules of the road you must follow to understand who should go through the intersection first:

Always yield to the right When two vehicles arrive at a four-way stop at the same time side-by-side, the vehicle furthest to the right has the right of way. If three vehicles arrive at the same time, the car furthest left should continue to yield until both of the other cars to the right of them have passed. Straight traffic takes the right of way over turning traffic When arriving at an intersection head-to-head with another vehicle, it is important to use signals. When two vehicles arrive at a four-way stop at the same time, and they are located head-to-head and one of the vehicles intends to turn and the other intends to go straight, the vehicle going straight has right of way. Keep in mind that if both vehicles are going straight or turning in the same direction, they can both proceed at the same time as they will not cross each other’s path. Right turns take the right of way over left turnsWhen two vehicles arrive at a four-way stop at the same time, and they are located head-to-head and one of the vehicles intends to turn right and the other intends to turn left, the vehicle turning right has right of way. Move forward slowly before entering the intersection to indicate to other drivers you are making the turn. The driver turning left should wait until the other car has fully passed.

True or False: Four-Way Stops Are Safer Than Traffic Lights

To be honest, they both can suck! But they can also be great, you just have to know where you are installing them. There is a time and a place for both kinds of traffic control. There are pros and cons to having signals and signs. Groveport.org goes into more detail on the myths versus reality, but I got the gist of why both can be a terrible idea, at times.

In regard to signals, unwarranted signals, or signals that operate improperly, can create situations where overall intersection congestion is increased, which in turn can create aggressive driving behavior. When more complex signal phasing causes longer waiting times at intersections, both drivers and pedestrians tend to become impatient and violate red lights, or drivers are tempted to cut through neighborhood streets.

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At the same time, four-way stop signs do not necessarily improve pedestrian or vehicle safety. In fact, pedestrians in stop sign-congested neighborhoods often have a false sense of security about crossing local streets with four-way stop signs. The application of traffic control devices, to the casual observer, often creates this sense of security, but in reality may actually increase safety risk. If control devices are improperly applied, they can create confusion between the pedestrians and the driver as to who has the right-of-way, thereby increasing the risk that one of the two will make an improper decision resulting in serious consequences.

New York State’s 5 Most Dangerous Roads [RANKED] With plenty of big cities and numerous busy highways, it should come as no surprise New York state is unfortunately home to some of the most dangerous roads in the nation. While you would expect New York City to be the home of such roadways (2 on this list), the danger is not limited to the Big Apple. According to Catalano Law, 3 New York State’s 5 most dangerous roads live mostly Upstate and should be navigated with the most extreme caution. Here are the 5 most dangerous in the Empire State. Gallery Credit: Matty Jeff

A new survey commissioned by the Toronto Region Board of Trade shows a majority of respondents have considered moving away from the city due to congestion.

The board says the survey provides data on a sentiment that’s popular throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): congestion is getting out of hand. That’s why, according to an infrastructure expert and a cycling advocate, there needs to be a focus on giving people options outside of cars to move around the city.

The survey conducted by Ipsos heard from 1,000 people in Toronto, Hamilton, Durham, Halton, Peel and York between June 7 and 14.

Among those who responded, 86 per cent of respondents said there is a crisis, with 89 per cent of drivers agreeing and 82 per cent of non drivers agreeing with the statement.

Of the 86 per cent of people who said the city and its surrounding areas are facing a traffic crisis, 89 per cent of them are drivers and 82 per cent aren’t. Nearly half of the people who responded say they avoid shopping, going out for entertainment or to watch sports because of congestion.

WATCH | How bad is Toronto’s construction traffic? Does construction traffic have to be this bad? Duration 12:02 CBC’s Angelina King and Nicole Brockbank went for a drive to see how bad traffic is in Toronto’s core and looked into what’s being done to try and make it more bearable.

Giles Gherson, the board of trade’s CEO, said one of the survey’s concerning insights is that 62 per cent don’t want to commute to the office due to congestion.

“That many people saying I’m reluctant to go to work was pretty devastating and pretty serious,” he said. “What I think you see out of this is a very frustrated public [that] is saying we want this to be a top priority.”

Matti Siemiatycki, the director of the infrastructure institute at the University of Toronto, said part of easing congestion in the city is improving public transit. If city traffic is getting that bad, he said the city may need to consider congestion pricing — essentially putting a price on the use of certain urban roads.

“I think we’re at the point where the alternative is worse,” he said. “People are stuck in traffic and it’s really impacting business and our quality of life.”

The board’s survey found respondents would also be in favour of 24-hour construction to both speed up transit improvements and general road work, as 68 per cent of those polled found construction was a main driver of congestion, specifically citing a mismanagement of construction schedules with too much happening at once.

Toronto working to speed up Gardiner construction

One prominent example is Toronto’s busy and clogged Gardiner Expressway. The city has pledged to speed up construction , but few details have been revealed regarding how that will happen and how much it will cost.

Siemiatycki said 24-hour construction can speed up projects but it has its own issues.

“Everyone wants 24-hour construction as long as its not on their street below their bedroom window,” he said.

Matti Siemiatycki, director of the infrastructure institute at the university of Toronto, says the city may have to consider congestion pricing to ease traffic. (Submitted by Matti Siemiatycki)

But there are places in the city where it can be done and not be hugely disruptive to residents, which should be explored, he added. About three quarters of people who responded to the survey said they’d be open to having a 24-hour construction in their neighbourhood.

In a statement, the city’s director of traffic management said construction being done in the city will improve access to transit and other transportation options.

“We know no one wants to be stuck in traffic and we greatly appreciate everyone’s patience as we get these projects completed,” said Roger Brown.

WATCH | How Gardiner construction will impact how you get around Toronto: How the Gardiner construction will impact your commute Duration 2:39 Toronto has unveiled a new four-year construction plan for the Gardiner Expressway, which will mean lane reductions in both ways on a very busy stretch of the highway. CBC’s Greg Ross has the latest details on how this will impact Torontonians.

Move away from single-occupancy drives: advocate

About a fifth of respondents said other uses of roads, such as bike lanes, parking and CafeTO patios, are a main driver of congestion.

But Alison Stewart, Cycle Toronto’s director of advocacy and public policy, says it’s the cars that are causing the congestion.

She said public transit needs to be the fastest way to get around the city.

“That moves the most amount of people, followed by making it safer and easier for people to walk and bike, leaving more room on our roads for those that need to get around in vehicles,” Stewart said, adding those who need to get around in vehicles include delivery drivers, contractors and people with mobility problems.

She said there need to be options that draw people away from sitting in a car alone to get around Toronto.

“We really need to focus on public transportation and other active modes of transportation,” she said. “For distances under five kilometres, getting around by bike is really — if you can do it — the fastest way to get around.”

Giles, with the board of trade, said many people commuting into the city are coming from farther than five kilometres away. Without a better transit system to get them downtown, he said, they will still rely on cars.

To that point, a spokesperson for the provincial Ministry of Transportation said the new Ontario Line subway, which has an expected opening date of 2031, is expected to move 400,000 people a day and take 28,000 cars off the road.

“While we understand construction and building for the future can be disruptive, we also know that if we don’t start building the infrastructure needed to support our growing population, gridlock will continue to get worse in the years ahead,” Blazina said in an email.

Police are seeking a warrant to arrest the driver on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in death. PHOTO: AFP

SEOUL – Police on July 2 opened an investigation into a 68-year-old man for a car accident late on July 1 that claimed the lives of nine people and left four injured in central Seoul.

They said they had mobilised forensic scientists and investigators to determine the cause of the crash, which the driver says was caused by a vehicle fault, a claim experts have cast doubt on.

Police are seeking a warrant to arrest the driver on suspicion of negligent driving resulting in death, according to Mr Chung Yong-woo, a senior police officer at Namdaemun Police Station, during a briefing to reporters.

The driver claimed that the vehicle went out of control due to a sudden unintended acceleration. On the other hand, local automobile experts believed that the deadly accident was caused by driver negligence.

“Police will conduct the investigation as promptly as possible to prevent any destruction of evidence,” Mr Chung said.

The remarks came following the crash, which took place at an intersection near Seoul City Hall at around 9.27pm on July 1, when a Genesis sedan plowed into pedestrians waiting to cross the road. The vehicle was driving on the wrong side of the road and collided with two cars before hitting the pedestrians, according to police.

“It’s difficult to provide additional information at this point as the investigation is still ongoing, but it seems like the deceased and the injured were hit by the car,” Mr Chung told The Korea Herald.

Six people died at the scene, while three were transported to a hospital but were later pronounced dead.

Those killed included four colleagues from a nearby bank, all men in their 40s and 50s, and two employees of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, according to reports. Among the four injured, one was seriously injured, while the others sustained minor injuries.

Vowing a “strict and prompt” probe into the case, Mr Chung also dismissed the driver’s claim that the accident happened due to “sudden unintended acceleration”, but said they would request a thorough analysis of the car by the National Forensic Service to verify his claim. The authorities will also look into the speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. However, the crash has rekindled a recent debate about whether older people should be subjected to a conditional licence system for “high-risk drivers”.

In addition, officials plan to question the driver’s wife, who was in the car at the time of the accident, as well as reconstruct the scene of the crime by using CCTV footage, black box data and witness statements to establish the exact circumstances of the crash.

Experts say the chances of a sudden unintended acceleration due to mechanical malfunctions with the vehicle are low.

While it’s crucial to leave all possibilities open regarding a car crash, Mr Lee Ho-geun, an automotive engineering professor at Daedeok University, said that the circumstances point to negligence behind the wheel.

“Drivers should primarily focus on minimising the risk of harm in a sudden unintended acceleration by steering the vehicle away from traffic, but the driver, in this case, ran into a congested metropolitan street, causing casualties,” Mr Lee told The Korea Herald.

Mr Kim Pil-soo, an automotive engineering professor at Daelim University, said that driver error likely caused the crash.

“Drivers experiencing a sudden unintended acceleration in a car accident that happens within five to six seconds usually struggle in accurately remembering and recounting the sequence of events due to the unexpected shock,” Mr Kim pointed out.

“However, the driver got out of his car (after the crash), and witnesses of the accident say the driver checked the car and fled the site, meaning the incident couldn’t have occurred due to uncontrolled acceleration of a vehicle, because the driver knew he was at fault and left the scene,” Mr Kim said, citing local reports.

Mr Park Chul-wan, a professor of automotive engineering and secondary batteries at Seojeong University, said the driver might be claiming that his car unexpectedly sped up on its own to avoid being held accountable for causing the accident.

“In the event of a sudden acceleration causing a car to stop, the transmission system (of the vehicle) continues to deliver power to the wheels as the engine continues to run. In such a case, the wheels continue to spin and make loud noises. But that didn’t happen (during the July 1 accident),” Mr Park told The Korea Herald. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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