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If you’re heading out of town for the Fourth of July, know that AAA is projecting a record 42 million people will be hitting the roads between June 30-July 4. A total of 47.9 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday weekend.

With all of those vehicles on the road, you should expect delays. Expect heavy traffic. Expect it to take a little longer than usual to get to your destination.

It means be patient, let other drivers have their space, be kind and understanding and don’t be in a hurry. Leave where you don’t have to rush to get to where you’re going.

We recommend packing ahead of time, so that when you ultimately get held up at the last minute, you still have plenty of time to run that last-minute errand.

Realize that everyone on the road is trying to get somewhere, especially during holiday weekends.

Some people are heading to work (or working), some are going to see family, while others are trying to get out of town. Whatever the reason, know that they also are trying to get there as quickly as possible.

We also recommend checking your oil, making sure your tires are aired up and that your vehicle is ready for whatever trip you’re about to make.

If you we all drive with patience, respect others and drive the speed limit, we’ll have a lot fewer problems on our highways the next few weeks.

We urge you to be careful if you’re heading out of town. Have patience, pack ahead and expect delays. If you do all of those things, you’ll be ready for just about anything.