Thanksgiving Travel Tips

As travelers throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond begin to finalize their travel plans for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend, AAA reminds motorists to put safety first when behind the wheel in the coming weeks, and is offering tips for a smooth journey.

Despite higher gas prices this year over last year, the overwhelming majority of Thanksgiving travelers will go by car. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year, and unfortunately the deadliest.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Thanksgiving has more traffic crashes than any other holiday travel period in Pennsylvania – more than 4,300 statewide last year, killing 55 people from Thanksgiving Eve to the Sunday afterward. 

Many of those highway fatalities were unbuckled, and involved alcohol. 

AAA urges all motorists to drive safely, buckle up, and never drive impaired, and strongly supports the efforts of local and state police in keeping our highways safe this holiday season, with the “Click it or Ticket” campaign and DUI enforcement.  Additionally, motorists can help insure a safe trip in other ways: getting enough rest before hitting the road; checking tires for proper inflation; and packing an emergency car kit with key items such as jumper cables and an ice scraper.

“This year there will be another 55 empty seats at this year’s holiday gatherings, in addition to many other lives that are needlessly lost on the highways throughout the year,” said Jenny M. Robinson, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.  “We urge motorists, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and throughout the year, to drive safely, buckle up and never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. AAA thanks Pennsylvania law enforcement for keeping our highways safe throughout the holiday season.”

AAA Mid-Atlantic also has been a strong advocate on many other traffic safety issues in Pennsylvania, including support for a ban on , which was signed into law by Governor Corbett just last week, and a stronger teen driver safety law, also known as "Lacey's Law", which was signed Oct. 25.

AAA Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Tips

·  Plan travel times.  Traffic congestion and delays are part of holiday travel, but try to plan your trip for off-peak hours.  The busiest travel days are typically the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Sunday afternoon/evening.

·   Rest up.  Get 6-8 hours of sleep the night before a long trip.  Fatigue decreases reaction time and awareness. A recent AAA study found that about a third of motorists admit they have nearly nodded off at the wheel - don't be one of them.

·  Plan in advance:

    o Fuel Price Finder (AAA.com/fuelfinder) locates the lowest fuel price in your area.

    o Fuel Cost Calculator (FuelCostCalculator.AAA.com) helps budget travel expenses.

    o TripTik Mobile (AAA.com/mobile) plots fuel prices along your travel route.

·  Check tires for proper inflation.

·  Take breaks and rotate drivers.  Stop every two hours or 100 miles and share driving time.

·  Buckle up.  Make sure everyone is wearing safety belts or has age-appropriate child safety seats.

·  Pack a winter car emergency kit: shovel, jumper cables, ice scraper, wiper fluid, de-icer, kitty litter or salt for traction, first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, water, food, cell phone.

·  Never drink and drive.  Although Thanksgiving is known for travel and turkey, it's also a big party night for some folks.  Stay over where you are, arrange for a cab ride, or get a sober friend to take you home.

·  Never text and drive.  Governor Corbett has signed a new law that bans texting and driving in Pennsylvania - and although it doesn't take effect until early March 2012, why wait to be safe?  Pledge now to put the cell phone down and focus on the road ahead.

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AAA Mid-Atlantic serves 700,000 members in the Philadelphia (5-county) region and nearly four million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, with personal insurance, financial, automotive and travel services through 53 retail branches, regional operations centers and the internet, at www.aaa.com/community.