More than 1 million New Jersey residents will be traveling this weekend for the Fourth of July holiday weekend – many of them hitting the road on Friday.

AAA says that 1.27 million New Jerseyans are traveling this weekend, and about 90% of them will be driving. It is a national trend, meaning that traffic is up from what it was at this time last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Knowing that traffic will be heavier this year, many decided to hit the road in the morning to get an early start on their holiday. But most assumed that they would hit some sort of traffic.

“Nothing you can do about it. Just be patient,” says Greg and Roseann Brewer, of New York. “That’s what happens when you piece Fourth of July weekend as your vacation week.”

AAA reminds all travelers to practice driver etiquette because there will be so many vehicles on the road to ensure that everyone will get to their destinations safely.

“If you are planning a road trip, taking a family vacation – plan ahead. Maybe take a road less traveled that might be the less congested route. But also make sure everyone gets there safely” says AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Tracy Noble.

Noble says that this includes using seat belts and car seats, leaving enough distance between cars in heavy traffic, maintaining speed and not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.