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SALT LAKE CITY — Whether to an isolated mountain top or to a family gathering, Independence Day means a road trip for many.
About 2.4 million Mountain West region residents are expected to travel this weekend, according to the forecast from AAA.
“Overall, Mountain West residents are taking a long deserved getaway, driven by a stronger economy and rising income,” Rolayne Fairclough, AAA Utah spokesperson, said. “And despite recent spikes in fuel prices, this upcoming three-day weekend provides a welcomed pause for those planning a holiday road trip.”
The average gas price in Utah is $2.99 per gallon, the seventh highest in the nation according to gasbuddy.com, but many Utahns will drive more than 50 miles to their holiday destinations this weekend.
"We just want people to make it to their destination safely," said Lt. Jass Nigbur of the Utah Highway Patrol.
Nigbur offered advice that is good practice on the roadway: wear a seat belt, watch speed, and check the vehicle for problems before leaving on a trip.
I-80 in Summit County I-80 is reduced to one lane in each direction from the U.S. 40 interchange to Wanship in Summit County. All traffic has been shifted to the eastbound lanes, and the speed limit is reduced to 45 miles per hour. Westbound on- and off-ramps at Exit 150 (Tollgate/Promontory) are closed.
But those simple standards often are not followed. UDOT noted in 2014 that about 83 percent of people wear seat belts, but of those killed on the highway last year, nearly half wear not wearing seatbelts.
The Utah Highway Patrol will have extra officers on the road working overtime, looking especially for drunken drivers.
"With the longer three- to four-day weekend, we'll see people who drink more because they don't have to go to work the next day," Nigbur said. "Of course it's not illegal to drink, but we encourage people to drink responsibility and not drive if they are above the legal limit."
AAA is offering a free towing service from 6 p.m. July 4 until 6 a.m. July 5 to members and nonmembers that call 800-222-4357.
“Just tell the AAA operator, ‘I need a Tipsy Tow,’ and a truck will be on its way,” Fairclough said. “Service is restricted to a one-way ride for the driver and his or her vehicle to the driver’s home.”
With so many traveling, Utah's campgrounds and forests are expected to reach full capacity before the weekend starts.
"Anything that could be reserved, has been reserved for this weekend," said Kathy Jo Pollock, a public affairs specialist for the Forest Service. "For the first-come, first-served sites, those will most likely be full by Thursday afternoon."
She said the Unita-Wasatch-Cache National Forests have not restricted campfires because the vegetation has not dried out.
But state land and national parks in Southeastern Utah have restricted campfires to permanent cement or metal pits at campgrounds or picnic areas.
As for fireworks, they are illegal on public lands in Utah.
“We continue to remind the public that all fireworks are prohibited on the forest at all times — and this includes the use of exploding targets,” said Angelita Bulletts, the Dixie National Forest Supervisor.
Contributing: Nicole Vowell
Katie Larsen is a Deseret News intern and print journalism senior at Utah State University who graduates in December. Email: klarsen@deseretnews.com
