AAA: More New Englanders Traveling For Thanksgiving This Year
Almost 2.5 million New Englanders are expected to travel over Thanksgiving, the highest number in more than a decade, the AAA says.
The number is up more than 3 percent from last year, making this the 10th year in a row the number of New England residents getting away for the holiday has gone up.
Of those travelers, some 2.1 million will be driving to their Thanksgiving destinations, the association says.
“A strong economy is driving the increase in Thanksgiving travel again this year,” says Amy Parmenter, spokeswoman for AAA in Greater Hartford. “And gas prices across Connecticut and much of the region are a solid 20 cents less per gallon than they were last year at this time.”
Air travel is up, too, she says. According to AAA projections, 285,000 New Englanders will be flying over the Thanksgiving holiday – an increase of 5 percent over last year. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Dec. 1.
Slightly fewer people from New England are planning to travel by bus or train, AAA says.
The projections mirror those on the national level: More than 55 million Americans are expected to make a road trip, an increase of 2.9 percent.
The National Safety Council estimates that 417 people may be killed and another 47,500 may be seriously injured in crashes during the holiday period.
The council also estimates that 165 lives could be saved by seat belt usage.
To that end, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and AAA advises that those traveling by car:
- Buckle up
- Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Avoid distracted driving
- Slow down
- Plan ahead, allow for traffic delays because of traffic
- And move over for emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road.
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