Many drivers have memories of battling traffic in the D.C. area over Memorial Day weekend, a widely frustrating experience.
But things have changed with so many area residents living and working very differently these days. 小萝莉影视 Afternoon Traffic Anchor Dave Dildine said it used to be that everybody left at roughly the same time.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 work that way anymore, the getaway is more spread out temporally and spatially, some people leave early, some people leave late,鈥� Dildine said.
So, what does that mean for getting across the Bay Bridge this weekend, for example?
鈥淚t makes it more manageable, it doesn鈥檛 make it easy,鈥� Dildine said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 still traffic it鈥檚 just not as intense as it used to be.鈥�
Dildine said over the past few decades as people changed the hours they work, where they work and more, that has affected traffic.
鈥淭raffic volumes are being more spread out,” Dildine said. “Yes, there are traffic jams but there are not cataclysmic backups stretching for miles and miles.鈥�
Dildine said it鈥檚 still true that the best times to leave are generally still the most inconvenient times, like the middle of the night or early in the morning. He does think one factor may affect the getaway this year.
鈥淭his getaway might be moderated somewhat by higher gas prices, that鈥檚 certainly possible,” Dildine said.
Some people filling up in Fairfax County, Virginia, Thursday were not excited about what they were having to pay for gas. One driver named Tim said his family is flying in and they’re going to the beach anyway.
鈥淲e鈥檙e driving down to the Outer Banks,” Tim said. “We鈥檒l be in three vehicles so it鈥檚 going to be an expensive jaunt.鈥�
Another driver, Shey agreed gas is expensive but said it鈥檚 cheaper than flying.
鈥淣ormally the flight ticket is $1,200, but now it鈥檚 $1,500 for each person, a family of four and that鈥檚 a lot of money,” Shey said.
Colin, who drives a large four-wheel-drive Dodge Ram pickup, said he鈥檚 not cutting back on driving, even though filling up is expensive.
鈥淚t takes about $150 to fill up,” Colin said.
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