The holidays are upon us and your mind is in a million places getting ready for all the festivities. Getting your family in the car and making sure you're not late for the festivities is one of your biggest concerns right now, but being safe while traveling should not go on the back burner.
Robert Sinclair, manager of media relations for AAANY, advises that everyone driving during the holiday season take time to get your car serviced and be prepared for an increase in vehicular hazards.
Majority of Americans will travel by car
According to AAA, the total of fatal crashes rise 20 percent from 5 to 7pm during the week of Thanksgiving. If you're planning on traveling, try to drive before the 5 to 7pm time frame and avoid the additional traffic.
Games to keep the kids entertained on long drives
AAA projects 43.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home on Thanksgiving weekend, an increase of 0.7 percent from last year. AAA also projects the majority of travelers will depart on Wednesday and return on Sunday.
This Thanksgiving, consider traveling Tuesday and Saturday to circumvent a majority of other drivers on the road. “If you are preparing for a long drive, traveling two days before Thanksgiving might be safer for you and your family,” advises Sinclair.
Traveling by air?
AAA expects 3.14 million holiday travelers will take to the skies this year, a decrease of 1.7 percent from last year's totals.
Prepare your kid to travel by plane
If you're traveling by air, you'll find lower airfares according to AAA’s Leisure travel Index. The leisure travel index also found the average lowest round-trip rate this Thanksgiving is $188 for the top 40 U.S. air routes, an 11 percent decrease from last year.