Labor Day weekend is around the corner and as Georgians are preparing to mark the unofficial end of summer – whether that’s hitting the road or staying parked on their sofas – the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) is restricting interstate highway and major state route construction related lane closures from noon Friday, Sept. 3 through 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7. Lane closures will also be limited on major state routes that directly serve key tourist and recreation centers.
Traffic volumes on Georgia roadways have largely returned to pre-pandemic levels. Because Labor Day weekend 2020 showed significantly lower traffic volumes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia DOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) analyzed data from the 2019 Labor Day weekend coupled with this summer’s recent traffic trends which indicate a likely increase of motorists on Georgia’s interstates.
Safe driving tips:
- If you find yourself traveling this holiday, do so safely with these best practices in mind:
- Drive alert:
- Don’t drive distracted or impaired. Stay focused on the road for any sudden incidents.
- Don’t drive with excessive speed and maintain adequate distance with the vehicle in front of you.
- Never get out of the car on an interstate, unless your life is in imminent danger. If possible, pull off the road, turn on your hazard lights and stay seat-belted in the vehicle with the doors locked until help arrives.
- Remember to move over or slow down if an emergency vehicle is working an incident in the shoulder.
- Make sure your vehicle inspection is up to date:
- Check conditions of your tires before you begin your trip. Make sure they are properly inflated and replace any tires that are worn, uneven or damaged.
- Monitor gauges while driving. If a warning light appears, be sure to stop or safely pull over before trouble arises.
- Prepare a safety kit.
- Remember HERO and CHAMP
- Georgia motorists can dial 511 from any phone to request HERO or CHAMP assistance on Georgia interstates.
- HERO assists motorists in metro Atlanta and CHAMP covers interstates outside of metro Atlanta (except I-59 and I-24).
- Both services assist motorists by changing flat tires; jump-starting batteries; providing fuel or coolant; pushing vehicles to the shoulder; transporting motorists to safe areas away from traffic; performing minor mechanical repairs; and administering first aid.
- Drive alert:
Georgia DOT reminds drivers that crews may still work in proximity to highways to address safety and maintenance concerns that may require some long-term lane closures. In addition, incident or emergency related lane closures could become necessary at any time on any route.
The public is urged to continue to follow the public health guidelines set forth by state and local agencies, as well as act courteously to fellow travelers.
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