CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- AAA Carolinas says it expects fewer people in South Carolina and North Carolina to travel by road for the July 4 holiday, in part because of the economy, high unemployment and financial uncertainty.

The travel services company predicted Tuesday that holiday road travel will likely be 2.4 percent lower in South Carolina and 3 percent in North Carolina compared with last year. It would be the second straight year that travel on Independence Day declined in both states.

AAA Carolinas president Dave Parsons says economic uncertainty and recently rising gasoline prices have weakened motorist travel. However, gas prices have been dropping in the Carolinas for the past couple of weeks.