How Arizonans can stay safe this Fourth of July
Arizona fire departments handle many firework-related incidents during Fourth of July. Here’s how to safely celebrate the holidays.
More than 1.5 million Arizonans are expected to travel for the Fourth of July between June 29 and July 7, AAA officials said. A total of 71 million people are expected to travel throughout the country for the national holiday.
Drivers can expect heavier traffic during the holiday travel period as an estimated 1.2 million Arizonans hit the roads for their Independence Day plans, AAA Arizona spokesperson Julian Paredes said. An estimated 176,000 people are expected to fly over the nine-day period.
AAA also expects 120,000 people to travel using other forms of transportation including buses, trains and cruises.
Travel is expected to peak on July 3, July 7 and July 8, according to a AAA press release.
During the holiday period, Paredes said the best advice for travelers is to plan ahead and prepare for extra travel time.
Between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. are the busiest hours for driving, Paredes said, so drivers may want to plan for earlier travel. He also said drivers should plan for extra delays if they are returning on Sunday or Monday.
“Inspect your car battery and tires,” Paredes said. “Make sure your car is starting up normally and all tires have enough tread and are inflated. Those are the most common reasons why people call AAA right now.”
For flyers, Paredes recommended getting to the airport at least 2 hours before their departure. If flyers need to leave a car at the airport, Paredes recommended reserving a parking spot.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s weekend advisory, there will be no closures on state highways between July 3 and July 8. While there are no official closures, the department told drivers to expect the unexpected, including stopped traffic due to collisions, disabled vehicles or events like wildfires.
ADOT also recommended packing extra drinking water as part of an emergency travel kit.
Drivers should be ready to slow down, allow extra time and use caution, the department said, especially when traveling through existing work zones.
