Are you booking your Thanksgiving travel? It’s not just you. According to AAA, 55 million Americans want to travel more than 50 miles for the holiday, making this the third busiest Thanksgiving since they began keeping track of data in 2000. And the great majority of those individuals will be traveling by car. Even if you depart early or late on Thanksgiving Eve, there will likely be a lot of other drivers on the road, so start planning your strategy today. After Thanksgiving, there will be a hectic period too.
Because of this, AAA has determined when it is the best and worst time to drive. If you want to save time and worry when traveling to grandma’s house for some pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving, make sure you schedule your trip to avoid peak travel periods.
The ideal times to travel on Wednesday are before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. On Thanksgiving Eve, it’s not a good idea to leave between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
If you’re driving on Thanksgiving Day between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., you’ll encounter greater traffic. Instead, consider making the journey earlier in the day or later in the evening.
On your journey home, avoid driving between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Keep in mind the following travel time advice before getting behind the wheel if you find yourself needing to travel during the week of Thanksgiving.
While lane closures due to construction will no longer occur, the department advises drivers to proceed with caution since workers may still be present close to roadways and because certain lane closures may need to last for an extended period of time due to safety issues. Additionally, lane closures for emergency repair or incident management may be required at any moment on any route.
For the duration of Thanksgiving travel and beyond, drivers should always drive defensively with their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Drive cautiously at night and keep an eye out for deer and other wildlife: Use your headlights at night and avoid using your high beams when other items are approaching.
Turkey overkill? Seatbelts extend, so no need to worry! Always fasten your seatbelt before you get on the road. For the Christmas travel season, Click It or Ticket is still in full force. It is not advisable for passengers to operate a vehicle before fastening their seat belt.
Maintain an emergency supply kit in your car, and more important than ever, check your tires’ pressure before you leave because lower conditions might influence it.
Last but not least, the holiday travel crunch around Thanksgiving is underway, and AAA’s “Tow to Go” program will once again endeavor to keep everyone on the highways safe from drunk drivers. The “Tow to Go” program offers free, safe transportation for a potential drunk driver and their car up to 10 miles from home or to a safe location. It’s not required to be an AAA member. Beginning at 6 p.m. on November 23 and running until 6 a.m. on November 28, the “Tow to Go” program will offer secure transportation home. You should save this number on your phone: 855-2-TOW-2-GO (855-286-9246).
THANKSGIVING WISHES TO EVERYONE AND MAY YOU CELEBRATE THE DAY OF THANKSGIVING WITH LOVE IN YOUR HEART, PROPEROUS VISION IN YOUR MIND, AND GRATITUDE IN YOUR BEING!!!
Sources:
https://myq105.com/2022/11/16/aaa-tow-to-go-returns-for-thanksgiving-weekend-2022-in
https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/economy-business/2022-11-21/aaa-is-forecasting-the-busiest-thanksgiving-travel-season-for-floridians-since-2005