Estimated 4.2 million motorists to hit the road over holidays, AAA says

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AAA Carolinas officials said that 4.2 million Carolinians will be driving to their destination over the next week.

Gas prices remain higher than they were at this time last year.

North Carolina drivers are averaging $2.30 at the pump right now, while South Carolina drivers are paying about $2.15 per gallon.

[Travelers advised to arrive to airport early]

AAA Carolinas said early-morning travel is usually the best time to avoid traffic and to be safe.

AAA Carolinas encourages drivers to avoid road rage

AAA Carolinas is warning drivers to avoid engaging in road rage as a record 2.8 million North Carolinians and 1.3 million South Carolinians hit the road for the year-end holiday period.

"The holidays can be stressful as drivers head to busy shopping centers for that perfect gift or battle congested freeways while traveling," Tiffany Wright, president of the AAA Carolinas Foundation for Traffic Safety, said. "Minor frustrations have the potential to turn deadly if drivers act out their anger on the road. Travelers need to pack their patience and remember to be respectful behind the wheel this holiday season."

[2017 Christmas shipping deadlines for Amazon, Walmart, FedEx, UPS and more]

Nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage at least once in the past year, AAA reported.

From 2011 to 2015, there were 55,000 crashes in North Carolina resulting in 1,401 traffic fatalities that occurred due to aggressive driving resulting.

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