After a record-low travel year in 2020, AAA predicts this Memorial Day weekend will see a significant boost in motorists.

Between May 17 and the May 31 holiday, nearly 1.7 million Ohioans plan to travel at least 50 miles from home — a 57 percent increase. AAA said more than 95 percent of travelers will drive to their destinations this year, an increase of 52 percent since last year’s holiday weekend.

Nationally, AAA anticipates more than 37 million people to travel for the holiday weekend, which would be a 60 percent jump from last year.

“As more destinations open and vaccines are administered, we’re seeing an increase in consumers who are ready to get out and enjoy the unofficial start of the summer travel season,” Bevi Powell, AAA East Central senior vice president, said. “The pent-up demand for travel could also be a sign of things to come this summer as more people feel comfortable hitting the road and making new memories with family and friends.”

The East North Central region includes Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. From these states, 5.5 million will travel by automobile, a 51.9 percent increase from 2020. By air, 248,000 are expected to travel, a 564.6 percent leap from last year and another 34,000 will travel by other means, a 26.8 percent increase from 2020.

AAA said it has seen “significant recent increases in online traffic and bookings” on its website regarding hotel stays and car rentals. It said a contributing factor to increased travel is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance that fully vaccinated people can travel domestically at low risk to themselves.

For unvaccinated travelers, the CDC recommends continued social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing and getting tested for COVID-19 before and after travel.

ODOT

The Ohio Department of Transportation said in a news release that it will work to reduce the size of work zones and remove “as many lane closures as possible for the upcoming holiday weekend.”

ODOT spokesman Ray Marsch said in Trumbull County, the work zone are being picked up, or made easier to get through.

“With Memorial Day, we try to pick up as many zones as we can,” Marsch said. “We’re moving the cones so motorists can get where they need to be. For areas we can’t (pick up), we ask motorists to pay attention and put down the distractions to get through these zones safely. If one person going through a zone is on their phone, that’s one too many.”

Although no crews will be actively working on the roads over the holiday, Marsch said paying attention is imperative regardless of whether crews are working.

“Any time you’re behind the wheel, distracted driving is a problem. We ask whether it’s Memorial Day or June 1, put the distractions away,” he said. “You’re not only putting yourself at risk, you’re putting the family of five in the car next to you at risk as well.”

ODOT said the primary focus of Ohio State Highway Patrol is the “Click it or Ticket” campaign and safety belt use during the holiday weekend. ODOT reported 20 people were killed in fatal crashes during Memorial Day weekend in 2020 and of those fatal crashes, 50 percent were not using seat belts. Another focus of the patrol is impaired driving. Of the fatal crashes last year, 10 involved impairment.

A news release states troopers will be highly visible on Ohio’s roads to encourage drivers to wear safety belts and to drive sober.