CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – AAA predicts some 12.13 million Virginians will travel 50 miles or more this Fourth of July weekend while Virginia State Police work to make the holiday traffic death toll zero.

More than 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend, AAA Mid Atlantic spokesman Morgan Dean told Cville Right Now.

“61.4 million of them will travel by car,” Dean said. “Air travel in Virginia is expected to be slightly down from last year, at 145,680 passengers … but still above those 2019 levels.”

In Virginia, 1.89 million are expected to travel by car, up just 0.1% from the same period in 2025, but up 11.3% over 2019.

When it comes to fatalities, State Police spokesman Matt Demlein told Cville Right Now he’d “love to be able to present a press release with a big zero on it on Tuesday.”

Demlein said last year there were 11 fatalities on Virginia’s roads during the Independence Day holiday.

To aid their efforts, Virginia State Police will be joining law enforcement around the country for the Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E), a state-sponsored, national program intended to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries due to impaired driving, speeding, and failing to wear a seat belt.

“Last year, we had nearly 3000 drivers that we cited for speeding. We had over 1400 cited for reckless driving,” Demlein said. “And this was especially important — we issued 505 citations for failure to wear seat belts. And last year was when the new seat belt law came into effect where no matter where you were seated in a vehicle you have to wear a seat belt. There were also 135 child restraint violations, so please buckle up because it improves your risk of surviving if you’re involved in a crash.”

Dean reminded drivers that impaired driving is 100% preventable and urges everyone celebrating the holiday to make a plan before the festivities begin.

“Whether the impairment comes from alcohol or cannabis, no one should ever get behind the wheel unless they are sober and alert,” Dean said.

Demlein echoed Dean’s message.

“Buzzed driving is drunk driving,” Demlein said. “If you’ve had a drink there is no reason for you to have the keys to the car and drive anywhere. Get a designated sober driver. There’s always ride share. Contact a taxi. There are numerous ways to get to your destination that don’t involve you driving if you’ve had a drink.”

Those traveling by car should expect to pay more for gasoline than they did last year, but they’ll be paying less compared to this time last month.

“The average price for a gallon of gas in Virginia as of June 30 was 3.70,” Dean said. “That’s down from Memorial Day. We’re down about 54 cents in the past month, but still about 56 cents higher than this time last year.”

AAA is also advising drivers to make sure their vehicle is in shape to travel, especially during these triple-digit temperatures.

“A few minutes of preparation can make the difference between a smooth holiday getaway and a dangerous roadside delay,” Dean said. “Extreme heat can take a toll on both drivers and vehicles, so motorists should make sure their car is road-trip ready before heading out for the Fourth of July.”

He noted roadside assistance can be risky not only for those who broke down, but for the person responding to the service in the hot sun.

“AAA answered more than 687,000 emergency roadside calls nationwide during last year’s Independence Day holiday. Tn Virginia that was about 12,734 calls,” Dean said. “The top reasons for those calls were tows, battery issues, and flat tires. Extreme heat puts added stress on batteries, tires, cooling systems, and fluids, increasing the risk of a breakdown. Before leaving, drivers should check batteries conditions, tire pressure and tread, coolant levels and hoses, engine oil and other fluids, their air conditioning system, wipers and washer fluid, and make sure they have an emergency kit put together that includes extra water and snacks for everyone in the car including pets if you’re traveling with a pet.

“A few minutes of preparation can help prevent a dangerous roadside delay in extreme heat.”

VDOT, meanwhile, has lifted all possible construction lane closures they could from noon Thursday through noon Monday.

While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. VDOT’s Travel Advisories will be updated with the latest travel alerts in the area and around the state.

VDOT’s free mobile 511 app also offers information about traffic, incidents, congestion and construction as well as access to traffic cameras, weather, electric vehicle charging stations and more.

Drivers can also call 511 and use its “speak ahead” option for audible traffic alerts and construction along their route.

Drivers can also ask questions or report hazardous road conditions through VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center, accessible online or over the phone.