Turnpike Officials Expecting Busy Holiday Weekend

--Over 1 million vehicles predicted to travel the turnpike over July 4th weekend--

Portland, Maine - More than 1 million vehicles are anticipated to travel the Maine Turnpike over this Independence Day weekend, an increase of 4.5% from the weekend of the 4th last year.  Friday is expected to be the busiest day, with more than 315,000 vehicles; and about 270,000 vehicles are expected to travel the turnpike on Sunday.  From January through May 2015, the turnpike has seen a 4.3% growth in traffic compared to the same period in 2014.  May 2015 was the busiest May in Maine Turnpike history, and all signs point towards this to be the busiest 4th of July weekend the Maine Turnpike has seen in the past decade, and potentially busiest 4th of July weekend in Maine Turnpike history.

With heavy traffic expected on the road this holiday weekend, the MTA is urging motorists to drive safely and take proper precautions over the 4th. Here are some summer safety driving tips:

·         Move over.  It’s the law. – When you see emergency lights on the side of the road, you need to move over. If you can’t move over, you must slow down.  Don’t follow too closely behind vehicles with strobes flashing as they may need to pull over suddenly.

·         Summer is Construction Season in Maine - Make sure to be cautious while traveling through work zones.  Obey the posted speeds and watch out for stopped vehicles in front of you.  Stay alert, do not get distracted by the construction activity.

·         Summer Means Campers and Boats on Our Roads – If you cannot see an RV’s mirrors, then they can’t see you.  Travel at a safe distance. If you are hauling a boat or camper, make sure the lights are connected and working properly and always have a spare tire if using a trailer.

·         Watch out for Wildlife.  – Moose and deer are most active around dawn and dusk. Be especially alert after sunset because these dark colored animals can be very hard to see until they are right in front of you.  Know that moose are hard to spot because they are taller than deer and their eyes won’t reflect in your headlights.