Its that time of year again: delicious food, family gatherings and frustrating traffic jams, flight delays and car accidents.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has predicted nearly 47 million Americans will travel during the Thanksgiving holiday season this year a 6 percent increase in travelers from last year.
In fact, its estimated more people will travel this Thanksgiving than for any other Thanksgiving since 2007.
With an anticipated addition of 300,000 travelers, 2015 marks the seventh consecutive year of growth for Thanksgiving travel.
The Thanksgiving holiday travel season is defined as Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday, November 29.
To help keep travelers safe, and to help take some frustration out of holiday traveling, follow these important Thanksgiving travel tips:
Tip #1. If at all possible, do not travel the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This is the most traveled day of the year in the U.S., leading to congested roadways and standstill lines at airports across the nation.
If you plan on traveling by plane, try flying on Thanksgiving Day itself. Flights are typically $40-$80 cheaper on Thanksgiving, and airports are significantly less likely to be crowded.
If you cannot delay your holiday driving, plan on leaving before 2 p.m. or after 7 p.m. on Wednesday to avoid the midday rush. In most cities, traffic is at its worst between 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Tip # 2. Try stocking up on necessary holiday food and supplies prior to Wednesday, November 25, as more people visit grocery stores, pie shops and liquor stores on this day than on any other day of the year.
Making trips to these stores the day before Thanksgiving only adds to the already congested highways, crowded parking lots, and painstakingly long lines.
Tip # 3. When heading back home, Sunday and Friday are your best options for avoiding excessive motorists or over-crowded airports.
While most people are expected to be at electronic stores and outlet malls for Black Friday deals, traffic surprisingly does not spike that day.
If you or someone you love had been injured in a car accident while travelling over the holidays, contact the experienced car accident lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy today. Our injury lawyers charge no upfront fees if we take on your case, and your initial consultation is also free of charge.