What to expect on Texas roads this Fourth of July

AUSTIN, Texas — An estimated 5.7 million Texans are expected to travel for a milestone Independence Day.

Daniel Armbruster, a spokesperson for AAA Texas, reports that 4.9 million of those travelers are expected to drive — that’s over 85%.

Armbruster says the heaviest traffic times start this afternoon and carry into the evening. In terms of return travel, Sunday afternoon and Monday are expected to be the most congested.

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Additionally, Armbruster wants to warn drivers about frequent causes of roadside emergencies before they hit the highway.

“The top roadside emergencies we saw here in Texas last 4th of July: dead batteries, flat tires, engine problems. All of those can be exacerbated by the heat, and we’re certainly seeing a very hot week here in Texas,” he said. “Heat and vibration are a battery’s worst enemy. If your battery is over three years old, you really want to trust a mechanic to inspect the battery, check the load in the battery, and make sure that it’s good.”

Armbruster says dim lights and difficult turning over your car are signs that your car battery might need a quick check. He told CBS Austin that the average battery life for a car is three to five years.

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Travel is only predicted is increase 0.2% from last year’s Fourth of July, but Armbruster says consumer confidence has changed significantly.

Two days before the Fourth, gas prices in Austin are $3.21 on average. Although gas prices have lowered in the last month, they’re much higher than one year ago.

“It’s $0.50 less than it was a month ago, but it’s $0.48 more than it was a year ago,” said Armbruster. “That’s certainly on the minds of some folks who are traveling and on a budget. We’re seeing some families where they might change how far they go, or maybe they’re not spending as much on food or on hotels, but overall, we still see a desire to travel.”