Phoenix, Ariz. Sept. 2, 2009. With nearly ten percent of the state’s population planning to take advantage of the last long weekend of the summer, the roads will undoubtedly be busy this weekend. According to AAA’s Labor Day travel forecast, motor vehicle travel will be the most popular mode of transportation this weekend. In fact, 557,000 Arizonans, or 78 percent of all state travelers, are projected to take to the roads this week for the final three day weekend of the summer. 

“While most travelers will enjoy their Labor Day holiday trips without incident, others will undoubtedly face unexpected trip interruptions, such as traffic congestion or a vehicle failure,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs director for AAA Arizona. “Travelers looking to lessen the likelihood of a wrinkle in their trip plans should take the proper precautions, as well as utilize a number of AAA’s free travel tools and resources.”   

To ensure a seamless end-of-summer road trip, AAA Arizona would like to offer travelers tips and tools to help them maximize their final holiday weekend of the summer. They are:  

• Get your “ride” ready. Last Labor Day weekend, AAA Arizona’s Emergency Road Service team came to the aid of more than 11,500 motorists across the state. The majority of these calls could have been prevented with proper vehicle maintenance. Getting a pre-trip vehicle check is a quick and cost-effective way for motorists to reduce the risk of a vehicle failure. Motorists looking for an auto repair facility to conduct a pre-trip vehicle inspection can visit www.aaaaz.com/auto to browse through more than 150 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across the state.
  
  
• Avoid traffic & congestion. The last place you want to get stuck en route to or from your destination is in traffic. By utilizing AAA’s TripTik® Travel Planner, motorists can get door-to-door directions to and from their destination as well as historic Labor Day congestion information. With this information, they can avoid peak congestion times or modify their route.
  
  
• Budget in advance. While fuel prices have dropped by approximately 27 percent from Labor Day 2008, fuel costs will still comprise 14 percent of Arizonans Labor Day trip costs, according to the auto club. By using AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator, motorists can get estimated fuel costs for their trip by entering the make and model of their car, as well as the origin and destination of their trip. In addition, motorists can use AAA’s Fuel Price Finder to find the cheapest gas along their travel route.
  
  
• Prepare for the unexpected. Even with proper care and maintenance, your vehicle may still experience a problem and leave you stranded. In these instances, an emergency vehicle kit can help fix the problem, or make the wait for service more comfortable. The kit can be compiled at home or purchased at any AAA branch office. The kit should include items such as a cell phone, flashlight and extra batteries, flares, jumper cables, basic repair tools and lots of water.

In addition to the above resources, AAA also has two free iPhone applications that can help Labor Day travelers. The applications are:

• AAA Roadside. Recently voted “App of the Week” by The New York Times, the free AAA Roadside app enables AAA members to quickly send their vehicle location, description, specific vehicle problem and other detailed information directly to AAA for roadside assistance. The application also gives the user the option to place a voice call to the auto club.
  
  
• AAA Discounts. Downloaded more than a half million times since its launch in April 2009, the free AAA Discounts app acquires the user’s location automatically, displays nearby AAA discount locations and allows users to pan and zoom on a regional map. It also displays the participating retailer’s name, address, phone, distance from location, and discount details.

“AAA’s new iPhone apps are another way we can help our members save money and get back on the go as quickly as possible,” added Gorman. “These apps are invaluable tools for motorists, especially for those hitting the road this holiday weekend.”

Both AAA iPhone applications are available through the iPhone App store or by downloading iTunes on your computer and searching for “AAA Roadside” or “AAA Discounts.”

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists.  Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.