Holiday travel expected to be heavy
If you plan on travelling to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving this year, you won’t be alone, as all the expected traffic will attest to.
AAA projects this will be the busiest Thanksgiving on the roads in nearly a decade. About 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving period, an increase of 1 million travelers from last year.
In the state of Florida, the shift is expected to be much greater as families decide to visit for the holidays.
An estimated 2.53 million people are expected to come to the Sunshine State, a 5 percent improvement from 2015. Of those travelers, more than 90 percent will travel by car.
The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 27, with the most popular travel dates being the Wednesday before the holiday and the Sunday after.
AAA believes the improved economy and the continued affordability in gas prices is the reason for the increase in travel, whether by car, air or even boat.
Improvements in the economy during the second half of the year, including rising wages, increased consumer spending and overall strength in consumer confidence has helped spur the increase.
“It’s still early to know how the presidential election will impact the market, but in the short term it’s not expected to impact travelers,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman.
Gas prices are slightly higher than last year’s prices. The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.17, 12 cents more than the average price last year ($2.05). In Florida, the current average price of $2.15 is seven cents more than last year’s holiday ($2.08), with some stations locally selling gas below $2 a gallon.
“With gas prices so low, people have more money in their pocket. They look at gas prices as a tipping point for travel and right now they see it as more affordable,” Jenkins said. “They can save some money when you compare it to taking a plane.”
Nationally almost 90 percent of holiday traveling will be done by car, meaning the major roadways will be jam-packed. Obviously, caution and patience is urged.
“This is the most traveled holiday of the year, and as usual, there is an emphasis on road trips,” said Joseph J. Richardson Jr., president and CEO of AAA in a statement. “If you are one of the 43.5 million people on the road, we urge you to be patient in traffic and limit distractions while behind the wheel.”
“People can leave earlier in the morning. Things tend to bottleneck in the afternoon,” Jenkins said. “Don’t text and drive, don’t eat or drink at the wheel. Make your focus where you want to go. When you’re in a rush, mistakes can be made and that’s when crashes occur.”
And if you’re in that situation, or if your car breaks down and you’re a AAA member, you may be in luck. AAA expects to rescue more than 370,000 motorists this Thanksgiving, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.
AAA recommends that motorists check the condition of their battery and tires and pack emergency kits in their vehicles before heading out on a holiday getaway. Drivers should have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop
Air travel is expected to increase 1.6 percent, with 3.69 million Americans flying to their holiday destinations. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase only slightly, to 1.44 million travelers.
Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.