Thousands more to travel this week

Gas pump prices are down, and thousands of additional South Carolinians are expected to travel during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period.  The motor club AAA’s prediction is that 1.3 million South Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more.  The Christmas/New Year’s travel holiday is defined as Wednesday, December 23 through Sunday, January 3.  The longest holiday travel period of the year is also one of the deadliest.  Last year , 42 people, including one from Oconee County, died on South Carolina roads during the same period.  With holiday parties aplenty this time of year, drunken driving is always a problem.  The Walhalla police are among local and regional police departments that will focus on getting people who drive impaired off the road through the campaign “Sober or Slammer.” AAA urges drivers who plan to consume alcohol to assign a designated driver or use a car service