This holiday travel season could be the busiest we’ve seen in six years.
According to AAA, close to 95 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during December 22nd through January 1st. That’s a near 2 percent more than last year and about 400,000 people shy of the numbers from 2006.
Airline prices are up and that’s why officials believe that there are going to be more people on our roadways. That’s why FOX NEWS reports that more than 84 million Americans will be choosing to drive to their holiday destination. That accounts for more than 90 percent of all travelers.
Our Hollywood car accident attorneys understand that means that one out of every four Americans is expected to drive a pretty significant distance over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. With that being said, you can expect traffic delays, crowded rest areas and busy, bust toll plazas.
“The year-end holiday season remains the least volatile of all travel holidays as Americans will not let economic conditions or high gas prices dictate if they go home for the holidays or kick off the New Year with a vacation,” says Robert Darbelnet, AAA CEO and President.
Drivers, you can expect to see gas prices around $3.30 a gallon by at least New Year’s Day. These prices have come down about 50 cents since September. They’re still at a record high for this time of year though.
The cost of rental cars and hotels are up, but only a little bit. Both two and three diamond hotels, according to AAA ratings, are up $3 from the previous year. Car rentals increased a little bit more, seeing a jump of about $16 for daily rental.
To help you to stay safe during your travels, officials with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) are here with some beneficial holiday travel tips.
Drive Safe through the Holidays:
-Make that a friend or a family member knows when you’re leaving, where you’re going, when you arrive and when you plan on coming back. It helps when someone keeps tabs on you should something happen.
-Make sure that you always travel with a cell phone.
-Leave for your trip with plenty of time to spare so that you can avoid rushing.
-Be aware of the road laws in states and cities that you’ll be traveling through.
-Know where you’re headed before you leave. You don’t want to mess with a GPS or a road map in the driver’s seat.
-Adjust your driving to the current road, traffic and weather conditions.
-Be sure to travel with your doors locked, especially when in stop-and-go traffic.
-Make sure that everyone in your vehicle is properly buckled in during each and every car ride, regardless of how quick or short it may be.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car crash, contact the injury attorneys of Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-561-7777 today!
More Blog Entries:
Broward Traffic Safety: Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, December 6, 2012
ESC on New Cars Helping to Reduce South Florida Traffic Accident Risks, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, December 4, 2012