RALEIGH – One of the busiest travel times of the year is coming up with the Memorial Day weekend, and the N.C. Department of Transportation wants your trip to be safe

More travelers are expected to be on the road this Memorial Day weekend compared to last year. AAA Travel expects more than 42 million people nationwide will travel 50 miles or more from home between Friday and Monday. That’s a 7% increase over 2022.

NCDOT wants you to get to your destination safely. So, if you are headed out of town, follow these safe driving tips:

Don’t drive drowsy

Follow the posted speed limit

Be alert of your surroundings

NCDOT will pause most road construction activities that require lane closures on interstate, U.S. and N.C. routes from early Friday morning, May 26, through Tuesday evening, May 30.

Find more about safe driving at on our website, and for the most up-to-date travel information, go to DriveNC.gov.

100 Deadliest Days

Memorial Day also marks the start of the 100 Deadliest Day of Summer. That’s the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the number of deadly crashes involving teen drivers typically rises. More people, including young teenage drivers, travel during this time.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program is reminding parents, teachers and caretakers to talk to young people about the rules and responsibilities involved in driving. Speeding, distractions and drinking while driving are leading contributors to crashes involving teenage drivers, and all are preventable.