Thanksgiving is drawing near and the American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that 48.7 million Americans will travel during the holiday period, which runs from Wednesday, Nov.23, to Sunday, Nov. 27.
AAA predicts that 89% of all travellers or 43.5 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from home, a 1.9% increase compared to last year. AAA also forecasts that 3.7 million Americans will travel by air, up 1.6% from 2015. As a result, Thanksgiving 2016 is set to be the busiest for travel in nine years.
In the South-eastern region on the United States, which includes Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee, Thanksgiving holiday travelers are expected to reach 2.92 million, a 3.2% increase from 2015. It is also projected that 2.79 million will travel by automobile and 95,000 people will fly to their destinations.
This year’s increase in Thanksgiving travel is not surprising though. It can be attributed to the improving economy, low gas prices, and rising wages. According to AAA, gas is the cheapest since 2008. Also, airline tickets are 10% lower than last year for 40 top routes and hotel rates are relatively flat.
Based on AAA bookings, the top 10 Thanksgiving vacation spots for this year are Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego, Orlando, New York City, New Orleans, Anaheim, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, and Seattle. The top four destinations are known for their warm weather while New York is popular for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Thanksgiving Safe Driving Tips
Here are some of AAA’s holiday road survival tips for motorists:
- Check the condition of your vehicle’s battery, ties, and pack emergency kits before traveling.
- Have your vehicle inspected by a trusted repair shop before heading out on a holiday getaway.
- Download the free AAA Mobile app that can be useful in accessing exclusive member discounts, finding lowest gas prices, making travel arrangements, mapping a route, and requesting AAA roadside assistance.
- Obey traffic safety laws, from wearing your seat belt to eliminating distractions behind the wheel.
- Never drink and drive.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I know how exciting it is to travel with your family and friends this holiday season. With millions of Americans hitting the road next week, I hope that we will all have a safe travel. If you are one of the millions of Americans traveling this Thanksgiving, I urge you to be patient, take your time, and don’t speed to arrive at your destination safely.