HOLIDAY TRAVEL NUMBERS UP IN AIR HIGH GASOLINE PRICES TO KEEP MANY AT HOME.

Byline: Susan Abram and Lisa Sodders Staff Writers

Southern Californians will hit the road and take to the skies today as Labor Day weekend travel kicks off despite record $3-a-gallon gas prices and the nation's attention riveted on the worsening catastrophe left by Hurricane Katrina.

This Labor Day is projected to be the busiest holiday weekend so far this year, officials with the Automobile Club of Southern California said. Still, it's too early to tell whether Southland residents will halt their plans because of the rising gas prices. On Thursday, regular gas was averaging $2.86 in Los Angeles, with many stations over $3 a gallon, compared with an average of $2.10 a gallon just a year ago.

``Who knows what will happen in the next few days. People may look at the gas prices and say, Gee, honey, let's stay home and barbecue instead,'' said Automobile Club spokesman Paul Gonzales. ``No matter where you go, gas is going to be obscenely high. The only choice is whether you're going to buy Triple-X obscene gas or NC-17 gas.''

The Auto Club predicts that nearly 3.1 million Southland residents - a 1.8 percent increase from last year - will take a holiday trip at least 50 miles from home.

The most popular destination is Las Vegas, followed by San Diego, Mexico, San Francisco and Hawaii, Gonzales said.

Peak traffic times are likely to be this afternoon as people leave, and Monday afternoon as they return. Gonzales suggested that motorists time their departures and returns to avoid traffic jams.

``That's one sure way to lose your cool, especially when you're paying record high gasoline prices,'' Gonzales said. ``Be sure to pack your patience as well as your favorite things.''

More than 515,000 Southland residents are projected to fly to their destinations, a 1.5 percent increase over last year, the Auto Club reported.

Bob Hope Airport in Burbank forecast a healthy Labor Day weekend, capping off its best summer travel season to date and prompting warnings to travelers to come to the airport early to secure parking. None of the flights has been impacted by the tragic events along the Gulf Coast, said airport spokesman Victor Gill.

``We have no nonstop flights to that area,'' Gill said. ``We are urging people to come early so they can scout out the available parking spaces. We are also encouraging people to take a shuttle or get a lift.''

Sin City is expecting record numbers as well, said Erika Yowell, spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Convention and Tourism Authority.

``Every year, it seems like people ask me if the gas prices are going to affect tourism here,'' Yowell said. ``We have not been able to associate high gas prices with tourism. Last year we had a record year.''

Across the San Fernando Valley on Thursday, many residents were deciding whether to get away or not.

Tarzana resident Ben Harush said that nothing would stop him from getting away. He planned to hit Pismo Beach, maybe take his dune buggy along with him.

``It doesn't bother me,'' he said. ``If I have to pay, I pay. But I go.''

Some students at California State University, Northridge, said the high cost of gas was already having ripple effects on their lives.

The gasoline spike has ``totally ruined my social life,'' said Katie Pike, 22, of Santa Monica, who plans to stay home and barbecue for Labor Day.

The international business major said she limits her trips home, her part-time job in Hollywood and classes just to save gas.

``Luckily, I drive a Honda Civic, but it still costs me $25 to fill up,'' Pike grumbled.

Student Steven Jonas, 22, of Northridge has arranged his life so he can walk to campus and drive as little as possible: his aging BMW only gets 14 miles per gallon in the city. He, too, has no plans for Labor Day.

``I've been in New York all summer. You just buy your subway token and that's it for the week,'' Jonas said. ``I haven't really been aware of gas prices.''

But Jonathan Cunanan, 23, of Sylmar, another CSUN student, is traveling to San Diego anyway this weekend.

``I've come to accept the fact that the government is going to do what it wants, and we can't do anything about it,'' he said, shrugging. ``We need gas; there's no alternative.''

Inside the newly opened Rather B'Knitting shop on Ventura Boulevard, the consensus among the women within the knitting circle was the same: They would rather spend money on colorful, fancy yarns than on gas and traveling this Labor Day weekend.

``I usually don't go anywhere because of the traffic, but now it's twofold. It's traffic and the price of gas,'' said Encino resident Sharon Stillman as she worked her knitting needles. ``I almost died when I saw the price of gas.''

With holiday travel, however, comes the warning to motorists from the California Highway Patrol to respect the rules of the road. ``We're still anticipating a lot of people on the highways,'' said CHP Officer Rick Quintero.

Quintero and the CHP are also warning motorists that officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers, speeders and those not wearing their safety belts.

Last Labor Day weekend, there were 53 fatalities statewide, and eight countywide.

As for those driving under the influence of alcohol, there were 1,659 arrests statewide last year, and 307 countywide.

``If people are going to celebrate with alcohol, then do so moderately and responsibly,'' Quintero said. ``If they're going to be driving somewhere, have a designated driver. If they're heading out of town, let loved ones know where they're headed just in case something happens. And expect delays. There's going to be a lot of traffic out there, so be patient.''

Across the nation, however, the long holiday weekend was dampened by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast, and the threat of a gas shortage in some states.

Droves of motorists who had looked forward to end-of-summer road trips to the mountains, beach or elsewhere were scrapping their plans.

The governors of several states, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, asked residents to curb discretionary driving and instead stay home with friends and family this weekend to conserve gasoline as some gas retailers have temporarily run out.

President George W. Bush on Thursday asked Americans to be prudent in their consumption of energy, but said supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Katrina were temporary, adding: ``Don't buy gas if you don't need it.''

Panicked buying was blamed for some gas stations running dry in some states, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

``We don't want to get caught out there trying to get gas,'' said Lucius Monroe, who had planned for weeks to leave this weekend with his wife on a monthlong, cross-country trip to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Hoover Dam.

Staff Writer Josh Kleinbaum and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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LABOR DAY GAS PAIN

SOURCE: Automobile Club of Southern California

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