Are American vacationers deterred by recent terrorism attacks in the UK? Apparently not.
In cars and on planes, millions of Americans are on vacation this week as the nation takes advantage of a midweek holiday, reported wire services.
More than 41 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from their homes some time this week — a new record for Independence Day travel — despite heightened security.
Most travelers, 34.7 million in all, are expected to load up their cars and hit the road for extended getaways. And about 4.7 million will traipse through airports.
“We’re seeing many, many people take the week off and go for a long week (vacation),” said Beth Mosher, a spokeswoman for AAA Chicago.
Elsewhere in the country, passengers who filled airports said they wouldn’t let fears of terrorist attacks ruin their holiday.
On the heels of last week’s attacks in the United Kingdom, American travelers are continuing to see additional security at airports and railways.
“We clearly have ratcheted up a little bit, focusing on those places where we think there might be a heightened risk. But nobody’s really sure,” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. “My advice to everybody is to enjoy the weekend.”
Amtrak officials said they were ramping up security, and the Transportation Security Administration deployed federal air marshals and security inspectors — both undercover and in uniform — to Amtrak rail stations in the Northeast.
Report by David Wilkening
