Bad news for Atlantans hitting the road this Labor Day weekend: gas prices are among the highest on record for the holiday weekend.
According to information from gasbuddy.com, a website that tracks gas prices, the average cost per gallon of gasoline in the Atlanta area is about $3.59, more than $1 higher than the average reported Labor Day 2010.
Cheaper gas -- as low as $3.39 a gallon -- can be found by those who know where to go.
Prices were even cheaper in 2009, about $2.29 per gallon.
2008 was a bad year, you may recall. The stock market was melting and fuel prices hit historic highs -- up to about $4 before dropping like a rock to $1.45 by the end of the year. During the Labor Day weekend, motorists paid about $3.79 per gallon, even more than we'll cough up in 2011.
On preceding Labor Day weekends, the price was about $2.79 from 2005 to 2007.
Those who do hit the road should be careful. Heavy traffic is expected on Interstates.
In 2010, 14 people died on Georgia roads during the Labor Day period, according to the Georgia State Patrol. During the 78-hour holiday period, there were 2,580 traffic crashes and 1,042 injuries.
The highest number of traffic fatalities for a Labor Day holiday period occurred in 1968 when 35 people died in traffic crashes. The fewest was seven in 1995.
About the Author
