SANFORD, Fla. — Fourth of July travel is already underway, and AAA says it’s going to be a record-breaking year.

AAA projects that 72 million people will travel “at least 50 miles or more from home” over the week-long period, an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year.

What You Need To Know

  • AAA expects Fourth of July travel to hit new records in road and air travel this year

  • More than 4 million Floridians are expected to hit the road during the Fourth of July travel period

  • AAA information shows that Orlando is the No. 1 domestic travel destination this Independence Day

  • FDOT and FHP officials are raising awareness on driver safety ahead of the Fourth of July travel period

Among those travelers are more than 4 million Floridians who are expected to hit the road this Fourth of July.

According to AAA, Orlando is the most popular domestic destination for travelers this holiday.

That’s why transportation officials from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) gathered Wednesday morning at the FDOT District Five Regional Transportation Management Center to raise awareness about driver safety this Fourth of July.

The busy travel period started on June 28 and will run through Sunday, July 6.

FDOT District 5 Public Information Officer Cindi Lane said Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday July 6, are expected to be the busiest travel days.

Officials believe that with the holiday falling on a Friday, that there will be a lot more travelers than usual.

AAA projects 61.6 million people nationwide will travel by car this year — the largest volume on record.

Also setting a new record is the number of people traveling by air, which the agency predicts will reach the 5.84 million by the end of the Independence Day travel period.

That’s why transportation experts gathered to educate drivers on the dangers of the road and ways to stay safe.

FDOT’s District 5 Traffic Incident Management Program Manager Garrett Popovich said with Orlando being the No. 1 domestic travel destination, the main thing drivers need to know about is how to get road ranger’s assistance.

If a driver becomes disabled on the roadway or is faced with a roadside emergency, they are encouraged to call the *347 or *FHP number for help.

“If you run out of gas, you get a flat tire, your car stops working, you’re involved in a crash, there’s debris on the road, anything unusual, incident that you encounter on Florida’s roadways, call *347 or *FHP and we’ll get either a road ranger or trooper out to you,” Popovich said.

Last year’s Fourth of July week resulted in nearly 700,000 emergency roadside assistance calls for issues like dead car batteries and flat tires, according to AAA.

Popovich said he is expecting those numbers to break records again this year.

For the most part, though, the message remains the same among experts: Practice patience and avoid distractions.

“Just be patient, leave yourself extra time, because there is going to be a lot of traffic,” Lane said. “We can’t overcome that, but if you’re patient and you plan for it, it can make your trip more enjoyable. Obviously, some big things are to make sure that you’re buckling up every time — seat belts do save lives — you’re not just driving distracted,” 

Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Tara Crescenzi said education also goes a long way, no matter how old the driver is.

“Education’s a big part of it, that’s why we’re here today to discuss it with our FDOT partners, but also being in community outreach, letting schools know and that’s where we really want to lean on the parents too,” Crescenzi said. “It’s to have these conversations with your young drivers, because as much as we try to go to schools to educate that, you are the example.”

FDOT officials said drivers should be hyper-vigilant and watch for pedestrians, since there will be a lot more present over the course of the holiday period.

“Last year, on Central Florida’s roadways, we had 646 (traffic) fatalities,” Lane said. “And of those, more than a quarter were pedestrians and bicyclists.”

When it comes to safety, preparation is also key.

With record traffic numbers expected this year for the Fourth of July, AAA recommends that drivers do their routine vehicle maintenance before hitting the road, and prepare items like emergency kits.

The organization also advised that drivers hit the road early in the morning to avoid traffic congestion.

To help decrease the number of drivers on the Fourth of July, SunRail will be offering free rides for those wanting to go watch the fireworks at Lake Eola, or for those attending the FIFA Club World Cup Quarter Final Match, from 1 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.