S.C. highways in for busy weekend

AAA Carolinas is projecting that 369-thousand motorists in South Carolina are expected to take to the highways headed for a little “R and R” this Memorial Day Weekend. AAA Carolinas spokesman Tom Crosby says the number of projected holiday travelers represents a five percent increase from the 2008 Memorial day Weekend. Crosby says motorists will notice a slight increase in the price of gasoline.”Unfortunately the price has gone up more than 25 cents a gallon in the past month. That’s still pretty good compared to last year, the price is anywhere from a $1.40 to a $1.50 a gallon less. The fact that it has risen in anticipation of the Memorial Day holiday means it’s going to cost a little more to travel this weekend.”
Crosby says the highest price for unleaded regular gasoline can be found in Myrtle Beach at $2.21 a gallon. Crosby says the lowest price gas is in Spartanburg at $2.13 a gallon.
Crosby says the good news for drivers across the state is that gasoline prices should not increase appreciably  over the next several weeks after this holiday weekend. “Generally speaking they either stabilize or go down a little bit after the Memorial day weekend unless there are some sort of other conditions driving them up. But as far as demand and travel, there is a little lull between Memorial day and July Fourth.”
Friday marks the start of what the South Carolina Highway Patrol calls “The One Hundred Deadly Days of Summer.” Highway Patrol Lance Corporal Paul Brouthers says there is a clear reason for the name.”Last year we had 241 people killed in South Carolina during that span of time. It’s the likeliest time for an increase in fatalities.”