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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; According to a report done by AAA Mid-Atlantic, more than 110,000 area residents are projected to travel for the year-end holiday season.</p><p>AAA predicts slightly more than 103 million Americans &#8212; the most on record &#8212; will travel, representing a 1.5 percent increase, or 1.5 million more people traveling, compared to last year.</p><p>This comes despite one fewer travel day this holiday season. The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Friday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 2, 2017.</p><p>&#8220;Tis the season for holiday travel, and this year more Americans, as well as local Wilkes-Barre area residents, will travel to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year than ever before,&#8221; said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. &#8220;The travel increase is a result of improvements in the labor market and rising wages. Lower gas prices and increased consumer optimism are also prompting more Americans than ever to set out to celebrate the holidays.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Most travelers will drive this holiday season</strong></p><p>According to AAA, the vast majority of American travelers &#8212; 93.6 million people &#8212; will take a holiday road trip, an increase of 1.5 percent over last year.</p><p>In Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas, nearly 100,000 residents will travel by car, representing a 0.5 percent increase from 2015.</p><p>Nationally, air travel is expected to increase by 2.5 percent, with more than 6 million Americans flying to their holiday destinations, while in Wilkes-Barre, more than 7,300 people will fly &#8212; a healthy increase of 1.6 percent.</p><p><strong>Holiday gas prices slightly higher than last year, but lower than two years ago</strong></p><p>AAA estimates that U.S. drivers have saved more than $27 billion at the gas pump so far this year, compared to the same period last year.</p><p>The gas average in the Wilkes-Barre region was $2.44 this week, about 24 cents higher than it was at Christmas last year, but lower than the $2.58 price seen on Christmas Day in 2014.</p><p><strong>AAA expects to rescue more than 980,000 motorists this holiday season</strong></p><p>AAA expects to rescue more than 980,000 motorists over the 11-day holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.</p><p>Drivers should have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop. For motorists who may encounter winter weather conditions during their holiday road trips, AAA recommends:</p><p>&#8226; Check windshield wipers and inspect tires to ensure safe drivability before setting out.</p><p>&#8226; Pack an emergency kit containing a snow shovel, flashlight, ice scraper, jumper cables, warning devices and extra warm clothing for everyone riding in the vehicle.</p><p>&#8226; When driving, slow down and do not tailgate.</p><p>&#8226; Leave following distances to a minimum of five to six seconds to allow additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary.</p><p><strong>About the travel forecast</strong></p><p>AAA&#8217;s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit, the London-based business information provider that teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong></strong>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>2016 Projected Year-End Holiday Travelers</strong></p><p>&#8226; Wilkes-Barre area</p><p>Total population &#8212; 385,121</p><p>2016 total travelers &#8212; 110,145</p><p>Travelers by car &#8212; 99,361</p><p>Travelers by air &#8212; 7,317</p><p><strong>Source: *U.S. Census Bureau/IHS Global Insight</strong></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts increase in holiday travel