ATLANTA (AP) -- The Georgia State Patrol predicts that there will be more than 2,300 traffic accidents resulting in 19 deaths during the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.

Last year during the same holiday weekend there were 2,062 accidents and 10 deaths.

Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said Thursday high gasoliine prices could result in heavy traffic across the state with more people taking shorter trips, staying closer to home.