SHA says it will suspend all non-emergency road closures through the weekend.
The holiday travel rush is underway. The Maryland State Highway Administration says many people will be heading out on their July 4th vacations beginning on Thursday morning. “We are going to be suspending non-emergency lane closures by 5:00 AM Friday morning, and continuing all the way through Monday into Tuesday afternoon,” says Charlie Gischlar, SHA spokesman.
He says if you’re heading out for the Independence Day Holiday weekend, Gischlar says don’t drive impaired, and that doesn’t just mean alcohol. “You might legally have some prescription drugs that could make you tired. Don’t take them when you’re about to go on a road trip. Plan out things accordingly,” says Gischlar.
“Make sure you’re paying attention to the roadway ahead. Things change in a matter of a nano-second so don’t take your eyes off the road,” says Gischlar. “Make sure everybody’s belted in, and that includes the back seat passengers. Just use good judgment on the highways.”
Also, SHA urges you to get off the road if you’re feeling tired, and take a nap. “If you don’t want to take a nap, then get up and walk around for a little bit,” says Gischlar. “That generally tends to wake people up. And keep the car as cold as you can. That heightens your awareness out there. When it’s too warm and you’re tired, not a good combination.
AAA Mid-Atlantic projects nearly 43-million Americans will be traveling during the July 4th weekend, including 890,000 Marylanders. The auto club says this is a record number of people heading out for Independence Day. A majority of the travelers will be going by car.