Get ready to join a record 2.5 million North Carolinians projected to make holiday trips on the highway between Thursday and Jan. 2, AAA Carolinas says.

Even as gas prices rise closer to the $3 mark, the Charlotte-based motor club and travel service warns that the roads will be clogged with families traveling through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

“The economy has been expanding for the past year,” AAA spokesman Brendan Byrnes said. “Our local travel sales are up 24 percent, and our hotel sales are up 30 percent.” ... [MORE]

Cold temperatures below 25 degrees can sap the cranking power of your car battery by as much as 35 percent, says the AAA Carolinas motor club, so this week is a good time to make sure you have a fully charged battery.

AAA offers cold-weather tips for drivers:

• Take the time to have your battery’s charge and cold cranking amps checked.

• Check your batteries connections for corrosion. When starting your car in the morning, turn on electricity first and wait 30 seconds for the battery to warm up before starting.

• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid freezing gas lines. ...[MORE]