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2h ago

Labor Day Travel Kicks Off With Newark Delays as NSC Projects 424 Road Deaths

The council cites weaker driving activity for a lower forecast than last year, with alcohol involved in roughly a third of holiday fatalities.

File photo: heavy traffic heads south on I-93 over the Zakim Bridge ahead of Labor Day weekend in Boston in 2023.
Bay Area travelers should expect crowded roads and busy airports this Labor Day weekend, but flights, hotels and rentals are cheaper.
Traffic moves north along Interstate 91 near the Connecticut Department of Transportation District 1 Administration Office in Rocky Hill. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
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Overview

  • A communications problem affecting radio frequencies forced a ground stop at Newark Liberty on Thursday, and delays persisted even after the halt was lifted, according to the FAA.
  • The National Safety Council projects about 424 traffic deaths for the holiday period, with an estimated range of 365 to 487, and warns that impaired driving is a leading factor.
  • Authorities expect heavy traffic across U.S. roads and airports, including more than two million passengers through New York–area airports and 4.2 million vehicles using regional bridges and tunnels.
  • AAA reports travel costs are down from 2024, with domestic airfares averaging 6% less, hotel rates 11% lower, car rentals 3% lower, and national gas prices around $3.15 per gallon.
  • Law enforcement agencies are boosting patrols and sobriety enforcement, with CHP deploying all available officers and Connecticut officials joining a ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign; travelers are urged to depart before noon to avoid peak congestion.