More than 43 million Americans are expected to traverse the country's highways and byways this Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Thanksgiving often stirs up images of steaming turkeys being carried over to the table as an anxious – and likely hungry – family awaits the presentation. In fact, according to AAA, more than 48.7 million Americans will be traveling throughout the country to replicate that scene.
It’s a 1.9% increase over last year’s numbers and the highest number since 2007. The auto group predicts that many people will travel 50 miles or more from home to be with friends and family this holiday.
“One million more Americans than last year will carve out time to visit with friends and family this Thanksgiving,” AAA President and CEO Marshall Doney said.
“Most will travel on the tried and true holiday road trip, thanks to gas prices that are holding at close to $2 per gallon. Others will fly, take the bus or set off on a cruise to celebrate with their loved ones.”
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The jump in travelers is due to an improved economy and overall strength in consumer confidence, AAA notes. However, the low gas prices are likely to spur more folks to drive to their destinations this year than last.
Americans may set a new record for Thanksgiving holiday weekend driving this year.
AAA estimates U.S. drivers have saved more than $28 billion so far at the pumps this year compared to the same period last year.
Piling into the car, utility vehicle or minivan is still the most popular way to get to your holiday destination with 89% of travelers, or 43.5 million people, choosing that mode of transport. Not only are more motorists driving, they’re driving significantly more, according to a new study by Bridgestone Tires.
Americans are expected to log 36.8 billion miles on the road visiting family and friends – a 46% increase or 11.6 billion miles – compared to 2015. Additionally, Americans plan to spend a combined average of $48.9 billion on travel (e.g., airfare, hotel, meals, gas) during the holiday season, about $3 billion less than last year, according to the company.
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“It seems Americans may be keeping travel costs down by driving this holiday season,” said Chris Welty, Bridgestone tire education specialist.
“It’s critical for drivers to prepare their vehicles for those extended miles on the road. Before hitting the highway, drivers should perform a tire safety check to ensure they have proper tire inflation pressure and the right set of tires for the driving conditions they’ll encounter along the way.”
Ensuring your vehicle’s tires and other systems are up to snuff are critical to ensuring that not only you get to your final destination with a minimum of fuss, but it also reduces the chances of getting in an accident.
Not surprisingly, the National Safety Council is urging drivers to take steps, including making sure vehicle maintenance is up-to-date, to stay safe while driving during the Thanksgiving holiday period, which it defines as from 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 27.
(Death toll on U.S. roads continues to rise. For more, Click Here.)
The nonprofit projects more than 430 people may die and 50,000 may be seriously injured in car crashes this holiday. Traffic fatalities in the U.S. have been on the rise the last two years.