AAA Carolinas expects about a 2% decline in travel for the July 4th holiday. They’re estimating 988,500 state residents traveling during the five-day holiday period. Most of the decline is attributed to the shorter holiday period… last year the 4th fell on a Wednesday, this year on a Thursday. Some of the blame is also attributed to gas prices which, while mostly flat for the past two months, are 8% higher than a year ago. A press release from AAA Carolinas refers to July 4 as “the deadliest day of the year,” noting 22 traffic fatalities over the July 4th holiday last year… 10 involving a drunk driver. The state Highway Patrol is conducting a Booze It & Lose It campaign through July 7.