COLUMBIA, S.C. — Travel across America is expected to surge this Memorial Day weekend, with AAA forecasting potentially record-high levels. In response, law enforcement agencies are ramping up efforts to ensure travelers reach their destinations safely.
“Thirty-eight million people are going to be traveling by car this weekend, you know, with the Memorial Day holiday period, and it begins what we call the 100 deadly days of summer,” said State Trooper William Bennett with SC Highway Patrol.
South Carolina is also gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend as it prepares for a significant influx of travelers.
“It’s been pretty smooth. We are heading down to Folly Beach right outside Charleston, South Carolina,” said traveler Bart Noonan. Noonan is one of millions traveling through South Carolina for the holiday weekend. “You just have to maintain speed. State troopers are out, so you have to be aware and cognizant of the cars around you,” Noonan added.
Trooper Bennett said that law enforcement will be vigilant in ensuring road safety.
“Make sure that you’re observing the speed limit, not speeding excessively. Wear your seatbelt. About half of our fatal collisions every year involve people not wearing a seatbelt, whether they are a driver or passenger. That’s an issue we continue to see, and that’s why we enforce the seatbelt law,” he said.
Bennett noted that increased law enforcement presence has had a positive impact. “I do know last year, in 2023, during the Memorial Day holiday period, we actually saw a decrease in fatal collisions. In 2022, we had seven fatal collisions; in 2023, we had two. So we do feel like our enforcement efforts last Memorial Day weekend helped,” he explained.
Last year, the Highway Patrol recorded over 1,000 crashes during Memorial Day. Most of these were caused by driving too fast, failing to yield right of way, or driving under the influence.
“You just want to make sure to make smart decisions when it comes to consuming alcohol and getting behind the wheel. Don’t make a dumb decision,” Bennett insisted.
Air travelers can also expect increased traffic. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport issued a statement to News19:
“In recent months, we’ve seen a significant uptick in passenger traffic through CAE, with some days reaching 4,000 - 5,000 passengers. This upward trend will likely continue through the holiday weekend and into the summer months.”
The airport advises those flying to arrive early and check their airline's mobile app for any potential flight changes.
“We want everyone to have a good Memorial Day weekend. We want everybody to get to where they are going safely and then return back home safely,” Bennett concluded.
The State Highway Patrol has announced that its enforcement efforts will focus on routes leading in and out of coastal communities and waterways throughout the state. Special enforcement will take place on all interstates from now through Monday.