Story Published:
Sep 2, 2010 at 6:24 PM MST
Story Updated:
Sep 3, 2010 at 9:29 AM MST
BILLINGS - According to AAA, 35 million people will be traveling this Labor Day weekend. With increase in travel, there is more you need to watch out for on the roads.
AAA expects travel this Labor Day weekend will be up 10% from 2009's numbers. In fact, travel in all forms is up in 2010, especially for short weekend getaways.
"In Montana itself we're seeing that people are going to camping and the national parks, but overall air travel is up and car travel," AAA Travel Agent Barb Brandenburg said.
Even though gas prices are 15 cents higher in 2010 than 2009, people are still getting out of town. But beware, with an increase in traffic comes an increase in safety concerns.
"The roads are going to be busier, there's a lot of camping trailers so driving carefully will be a big factor," Brandenburg said.
Yellowstone County Sheriff's deputies will be increasing their patrols over the 2010 Labor Day weekend with the help of some extra funding.
"Being the Labor Day weekend, we're trying to run five extra patrols throughout the county. This will be a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety commission," Captain Bill Michaelis said.
Throughout the county, deputies will be on the lookout for drunk drivers or those not wearing seatbelts.
"We do have more enforcement out there, so the chances of finding the DUI with the more cars available to watch for that and not taking normal calls, they'll be out looking specifically for the DUI driver," he said.
He said this time of year is prime for people drinking and driving. If you see anyone drinking and driving, you're urged to call 911 and report the driver.
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