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Holiday motorists can expect cheaper gas, increased trooper patrols
By AUDREY M. MARKS
While greater Houston residents are finishing up their holiday shopping, looking to visit family and friends, or get out of town in the next week, motorists will be paying at least $1.30 less per gallon than they did last year.
According to AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch, locals are getting one of the best deals on a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline currently at $1.50. Last year a gallon of gas cost close to $2.80.
Last month a gallon of gas cost on average $1.70, a far cry from when the cost of gasoline spiked mid-July to more than $3.90 a gallon.
With the decrease in the cost of fuel, AAA Texas expects 4.5 million motorists will take to the roads this holiday season. Still the estimate is a two percent decrease in the number of travelers last December.
Once you get on the road, the Texas Department of Public Safety is offering advice for safe holiday travel:
Be a courteous driver
If there is construction, bad weather or heavy traffic slow down.
If you plan to drink have a designated driver.
Wear your seat belt.
Avoid text messaging and keep cell phone conversations to a minimum while driving.
If you are tired, avoid driving.
Check out your vehicle before setting off on your holiday destination to help avoid potential problems while on the road.
“The best present you can give to yourself and your loved ones is to make sure you arrive safely at your holiday destination,” Interim DPS Director Stanley E. Clark said in a statement.
He said that many traffic accidents, from fender benders to fatal crashes, are preventable.
DPS announced Monday they will step up holiday patrols to enforce drinking and driving, seat belt and speed violators.
“We feel our efforts, in conjunction with increased enforcement from other agencies, will make the holidays just a little bit safer,” Clark said. “DPS prefers voluntary compliance, but we write citations and arrest drunk drivers to save lives.”
According to AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch, locals are getting one of the best deals on a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline currently at $1.50. Last year a gallon of gas cost close to $2.80.
Last month a gallon of gas cost on average $1.70, a far cry from when the cost of gasoline spiked mid-July to more than $3.90 a gallon.
With the decrease in the cost of fuel, AAA Texas expects 4.5 million motorists will take to the roads this holiday season. Still the estimate is a two percent decrease in the number of travelers last December.
Once you get on the road, the Texas Department of Public Safety is offering advice for safe holiday travel:
Be a courteous driver
If there is construction, bad weather or heavy traffic slow down.
If you plan to drink have a designated driver.
Wear your seat belt.
Avoid text messaging and keep cell phone conversations to a minimum while driving.
If you are tired, avoid driving.
Check out your vehicle before setting off on your holiday destination to help avoid potential problems while on the road.
“The best present you can give to yourself and your loved ones is to make sure you arrive safely at your holiday destination,” Interim DPS Director Stanley E. Clark said in a statement.
He said that many traffic accidents, from fender benders to fatal crashes, are preventable.
DPS announced Monday they will step up holiday patrols to enforce drinking and driving, seat belt and speed violators.
“We feel our efforts, in conjunction with increased enforcement from other agencies, will make the holidays just a little bit safer,” Clark said. “DPS prefers voluntary compliance, but we write citations and arrest drunk drivers to save lives.”
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