This holiday season, travel is expected to be at an all-time high. According to AAA, approximately 107.3 million Americans will take to the roads, rails, and skies as part of their holiday plans this year.
Record Breaking Holiday Travel Numbers
This year-end holiday travel period (Saturday, Dec. 23 through Monday, Jan. 1) is set to be the highest on record, with a 3.1 percent increase in travel volume over 2016. In fact, this is the ninth consecutive year of growing holiday year-end travel with volume increasing over 25 percent since 2005, growing by 21.6 million travelers.
Global transportation analytics company INRIX, along with AAA, predict that holiday travel times are likely to be affected by the increased number of travelers. For those traveling by car, trips could take up to three times longer than normal, so it’s best to prepare for this by giving yourself plenty of additional travel time.
The holiday travel forecast shows:
- Automobiles are the go-to travel mode this year, with 97.4 million Americans hitting the road.
- Over six million people plan to take to the skies, increasing air travel volumes for the fourth year in a row.
- Travel on trains, buses, and cruise ships has also increased, with the three combined slated to serve over three million people.
How to Travel Safely This Season
As always, safety is important when traveling. For those driving to their destination, one key to traveling safely is avoiding the stress of extra congestion on the roads. One way to prevent this from happening is to avoid driving in major cities during peak travel times, such as rush hours – leave early in the morning or after the morning commute.
Other tips for safe holiday travel:
- Getting plenty of sleep or tag-teaming the drive (if possible) can help avoid incidents and drowsy driving. It’s recommended for long trips to schedule a stop every two hours or 100 miles to remain alert.
- Avoid distracted driving. Make sure your phone is out of reach and, instead, connect it to a Bluetooth speaker if you've got one. Another good tip is to designate a passenger as official navigator and text messenger.
- Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination – traffic and inclement weather conditions can delay travel.
- Make sure your car is ready to travel. AAA recommends stopping by a repair shop for an inspection before any major road trip so unexpected car trouble doesn’t throw a wrench in your holiday travel. This travel season, they expect to rescue nearly one million motorists due, most commonly, to battery-related issues, lockouts, and flat tires.
No Car for Holiday Travels?
If you long to travel during the holidays, but your car can’t make the trek to see family and friends, it may be time to look for your next vehicle. If your credit is on the naughty list, and you’re worried there’s no way you’ll ever see a big red car bow in your future, Auto Credit Express wants to help.
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