Following a decrease in Memorial Day travel patterns, this year's July Fourth holiday traffic will not increase over the prior year for the first time since 2001, according to AAA Carolinas.

About one million North Carolina and 551,000 South Carolina drivers are expected to take the roads through the weekend, a 1.3 percent decrease in the number of July 4 road travelers from 2007.

An estimated 96,800 North Carolina and 46,354 South Carolina fliers are expected to travel through this weekend, a 2 percent decrease from the 2007 July 4 fliers.

Surprisingly, one out of every four Carolinians expects to travel from home more than 1,000 miles round trip, with more than half leaving early in the week, meaning that traffic on Sunday, July 6, will be the heaviest travel day of the holiday -- as most return home on a day gas prices are likely to exceed $4 a gallon in North Carolina.

Currently, South Carolina has the second cheapest gas in the country. North Carolina's gas price is 35th highest.

Gasoline prices hit new record highs again this week, up 6 percent in the Carolinas since Memorial Day, with an average of $3.999 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline in North Carolina, up 23 cents from Memorial Day. The average price of $3.866 a gallon of unleaded in South Carolina is up 22 cents since Memorial Day.

Since last July 4, prices in North Carolina are up $1.10 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline, or a 38 percent increase.

In South Carolina, prices are up $1.09 for a gallon of unleaded gas, or a 37 percent increase. Nationally, gas averages have increased $1.11 for a gallon of unleaded gas to a new record high of $4.086 a gallon for this July 4 holiday weekend.

"The high price of fuel may be forcing many travelers to change their vacation plans," said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. "With barrels of oil trading at new record highs almost daily, it is unknown whether gas prices will stabilize or decrease this summer.

"Even with high fuel prices, many Carolinians still plan to travel, many for longer distances and for longer periods of time. July 4 is a traditional family vacation time and the heaviest travel holiday of the summer."

Parsons said Carolinians are likely to budget the price of fuel into their vacation plans, and many will either stay with friends and relatives or seek less expensive accommodations. Many accommodations and attractions are offering discounts to help lure vacationers.

The expected decrease in the number of travelers over the July Fourth holiday is the most recent effect of high gas prices.

U.S. Department of Transport-ation officials recently announced drivers have dramatically decreased their driving 1.8 percent less than in last April, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

An estimated 141,218 Carolin-ians will fly to destinations this holiday weekend, including 94,864 North Carolina fliers and 46,354 South Carolina fliers, about a two percent decrease from 2007.

Last July 4, holiday fliers from North Carolina were estimated at 96,800 and from South Carolina at 47,300.

In addition to higher fares, air travelers this weekend face several new surcharges including some airlines charging for checked baggage, window or aisle seats, snacks and beverages, and phone reservations.

"The decrease in air service, in addition to anticipated longer delays and route cancellations, may cause some travelers to stop flying over busy holidays," Parsons said.

The 2008 holiday travel numbers are based on research from surveys and a forecast model developed by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA.

The data was collected by an online survey of more than 2,000 adults nationwide and supplemented by an additional 6,500 Americans surveyed from the top 10 travel origins in the nation.

In North Carolina, most road construction projects under way by the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will be suspended at 4 p.m. Thursday through 9 a.m. Monday. One exception is the lane closures on Interstate 85 in Vance County from north of U.S. 158 (mile marker 214) to south of the Granville County line (mile marker 208). Motorists can call NCDOT's toll-free travel information line at 511 or visit www.ncdot.org/traffictravel for real-time travel information.

In addition, N.C. law enforcement officers are operating the "Booze It and Lose It: Operation Firecracker" campaign with checkpoints and stepped-up patrols to remove impaired drivers from the road. It began June 27 and runs through July 6.

Motorists should find clear driving throughout South Carolina, as all lanes will be open on state highways to accommodate weekend traffic.