The Fourth of July. The day we celebrate our country’s independence. A day for hearty barbecues, quality time with family and of course, fireworks. Let’s not try to ruin it by making costly mistakes this year.

On the road, AAA projects 42.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day holiday weekend, a 4.9 percent increase from the 40.3 million people who traveled last year. The expected travel volume will tie the past decade’s high mark set in 2007 and represents a near 42 percent increase from 2009, which had the least amount of travelers.

The holiday travel period this year will be from Tuesday to Sunday because July 4 falls on a Wednesday. That’s likely to play a role in driving holiday travel volume. According to AAA, when asked about day of departure, 54 percent of people who intend to travel this holiday plan to begin their trip prior to the start of the work-week. With that, there are some concerns we believe need to be addressed.

Drinking and driving. We all know it’s illegal and it can lead to tragic conclusions, yet it’s still reported. If you plan to drink during the holiday celebration, make the necessary arrangements. Have a designated driver, or let a sober family member drive. The Tow To Go program, a partnership between AAA and Budweiser is free and open to everybody, not just AAA members. Call 1-800-AAA-HELP. The AAA tow truck takes the vehicle and the driver safely home. Take advantage of it if necessary.

And there’s bound to be traffic jams, which can frustrate drivers. We believe nothing good can come from road rage. It’s led to people getting hurt or even killed. But road rage is not just two people getting out of the car and getting into a physical altercation. It’s also aggressive driving – speeding, tailgating and cutting off other motorists through sudden lane changes. Law enforcement will be out in force.  Troopers, deputies and officers will be looking for such offenses and the tickets aren’t cheap. So, slow down, play some music, give yourself plenty of time and have some activities planned if you’re traveling with children.

If you see such reckless activity or what you perceive as a drunk driver, call authorities. You just might safe a life.

Off the road, be careful with fireworks. We know it might sound like a tired warning, but many end up in emergency rooms this time of year because of mishaps. Fireworks should only be used under adult supervision. But if you want to avoid a problem all together, the fireworks display put on by the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud always is a crowd-pleaser.

So, be safe and enjoy the holiday. Happy Fourth of July.