LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – Memorial Day weekend coupled with great weather means boating, swimming, and traveling for many Kentuckians. Here are some tips to stay safe and reduce pocketbook stress for your holiday weekend.
Things to do in central Kentucky for Memorial Day
Car travel
With nearly 40,000,000 people expected to travel, AAA said morning travel is usually best. With bad drive times typically being from noon to 7 p.m.
Drivers looking to save on rising gas prices might benefit from slowing down between five and 10 mph, with 60 mph being the “sweet spot.”
Those looking to fill up their tanks should take a second to shop around and use tools like GasBuddy to compare prices.
Flying
If you are flying, those Monday tickets tend to be the cheapest. You might want to avoid the TSA screening checks before 7 a.m. or between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., as those are the busiest times and you might have your longest wait.
Water safety
Kentucky’s lakes and rivers are expected to be packed with pontoons and speed boats this Memorial weekend, but officials said it’s worth stopping to think about the dangers before you pull up the boat’s anchor.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more and more Kentuckians have bought boats, many with no boating experience.
Last year, fish and wildlife reported 17 boating-related deaths in Kentucky’s waters. Officers said it’s the decisions you make before you start your engine that will make a difference this season.
“We just want people to think about what they are doing. be aware of their surroundings. be safe. we want people to enjoy it and have a good weekend. but we want them to come home and move on with the rest of the summer,” said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officer Mike Pritchard.
Officers also said everyone on board a boat must have a life jacket and every boat should have a throwable float in case someone falls overboard.
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In case you need help, every boat should have a whistle or horn to get someone’s attention and officials remind boaters to check their fire extinguishers because they often explode in the winter.
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