Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao issued a memo to employees of the Department of Transportation on Wednesday that predicted this Independence Day would be the most traveled in history. Chao cited the strong economy and falling gas prices as primary motivators for Americans to hit the road on July 4th.
The memo projected that travel by car would increase by 4.3% over 2018, and travel by air would see a bump of 5.3%. Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, further noted that travel on trains, buses, and even cruise ships would also see an increase over the holiday.
She concluded the memo with a thank you to staff for advancing safe transportation initiatives and gave a nod to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for reminding holiday travelers that “buzzed driving is drunk driving and if you feel different, you drive different.”
Chao, who has held her post since the beginning of President Trump’s term and previously served as Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush, concluded the note with warm wishes saying, “I wish everyone safe travels and a wonderful holiday with your loved ones and friends!”
