AAA predicts fewer drivers will hit the road for the 4th

Apparently, a lousy economy is even worse for road trips than $4 gas.

Over the 4th of July weekend this year, the American Automobile Association expects that 21,000 fewer Georgians will travel than did over the holiday weekend in 2008.

That mirrors a national trend, with AAA predicting 1.9 percent fewer travelers nationwide this year than last.

Last summer, the pocketbook blues at the gas pump had a lot of drivers setting down their car keys. This year, though gas is now well under last summer’s rates, the auto club says even fewer people will shell out for an Independence Day getaway.

It’s the drivers, not the fliers. The club predicts 25,000 fewer Georgians than last year will drive for the 4th of July vacation. But 4,000 more will fly, AAA explained, many taking advantage of affordable plane tickets and steep discounts on travel packages offered by a desperate industry.

That makes for a total projected 1,067,000 Georgia travelers, compared to 1,088,000 last year.

Still, it ain’t over til it’s over. “The fact that gasoline prices appear to have peaked and may be on their way down may encourage some families to reconsider a vacation getaway starting with this holiday weekend,” Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of AAA Auto Club South, said in a statement.