AAA projects that 39.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Memorial Day weekend. That is one million more travelers than last year taking to the roads, skies, rails and water, creating the highest Memorial Day travel volume since 2005.

"The expected spike in Memorial Day travel mirrors the positive growth seen throughout the travel industry this year," said Jim Lehman, President of AAA East Central. "Pent up demand following an election year and an improved economy have contributed to the record-breaking number of travelers who indicate they plan to kick off the summer with a much-deserved vacation this year."The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday through Monday.Statistics for the Mid Atlantic region, which includes New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania:• Memorial Day travelers will total 4.6 million, an increase of 2.4 percent from the 4.49 million in 2016.• 4.15 million will travel by automobile, up 2.4 percent from 4 million in 2016.• 308,000 people will fly to their destinations, up 4.6 percent from 295,000 in 2016.• 141,000 people will use other modes (bus, train, boat, etc.), the same as in 2016.On the turnpikeTo help accommodate heavier holiday traffic, the Pennsylvania Turnpike will suspend maintenance work and have all available lanes open in each direction through 11 p.m. Monday. The traffic breakdown is as follows:Today: 750,000 vehicles are expected to travel the system.Saturday: 550,000 are expected to travel the system.Sunday: 475,000 are expected to travel the system.Monday: 525,000 are expected to travel the system.Higher gas pricesWhile AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015, the vast majority of holiday travelers (88.1 percent) are still planning to hit the road. Automobile travel will grow by 2.4 percent across America this Memorial Day, with 34.6 million people planning a holiday road trip. The national average price for a gallon of gas today is $2.34, 11 cents more than last year.Check the trafficWith many Pennsylvanians expected to travel for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is encouraging the public to visit the "Historic Holiday Traffic" page at

www.511PA.com so they can plan optimal travel times on major roadways across the state this weekend.The site allows users to see how traffic speeds on the Friday before and day of Memorial Day in 2015 and 2016 compare to traffic conditions during a typical, non-holiday week. Users can choose their region and view an hour-by-hour, color-coded visual of traffic speeds to help them decide the best times to travel during the holiday. 511PA also offers real-time, traffic speed information for thousands of roadway miles throughout Pennsylvania.PennDOT will also remove lane restrictions and suspend construction projects wherever possible through the holiday period. Motorists can see remaining construction projects at

www.511PA.com before they travel.The public can use 511PA to check conditions on nearly 40,000 roadway miles in Pennsylvania.Buckle up, stay soberThe Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association reminds drivers and riders that beginning May 26 and throughout the Memorial Day holiday weekend, local and state law enforcement will be out looking for impaired drivers and ensuring drivers and passengers are buckled up for their protection.On Memorial Day weekend 2015 there were 923 crashes and 24 fatalities on Pennsylvania roads based on data from the 2015 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Crash Facts and Statistics. One hundred thirty-seven of those crashes were alcohol related and resulted in 9 fatalities. Holiday activities are usually planned in advance. If alcohol is included that planning must include the use of alternative transportation or designated drivers to save lives.Law enforcement across the Commonwealth will be conducting stationary checkpoints and/or roving patrols throughout the weekend.If you fail to heed this warning and you're apprehended driving impaired, your problems have just begun. You could face jail time, fines, loss of driver's license, towing fees, and other DUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.