LOGAN – Just like the Christmas classic movie “Home Alone,” families are choosing to travel for the Holidays. The American Automobile Association warns traveling during this time of year can be a hectic experience.
AAA projects 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles domestically during this holiday season, which would surpass 2023’s numbers by 3 million and eclipsing the previous record set in 2019 by over 60,000 travelers. Then there are those on the road looking for last minute gifts.
AAA expects nearing 107 million of those travelers to hit the road using automobiles as their mode of transportation, which will be short of 2019’s record-setting numbers (108 million). The organization said the high volume of vehicles on the road will likely result in heavy traffic.
AAA wants drivers to be patient with other others and avoid distractions for a smooth experience.
With people opting to drive as opposed to traveling by air, some may think there will be less volume at airports; that won’t be the case if the organization is correct. AAA expects airports to be crowded as they expect some 7.85 million people to take to the air for getting to their destination surpasses the previous record of 7.5 million air travelers in 2023.
For long haul truck drivers like Gregory Joel, the holiday rush brings unique challenges trying to meet last-minute deadlines often create hazards for others on the road.
“Everybody rushed, trying to get there, trying to get to the deadline of what they have to get and what they got to buy, who they got to pick up. It is very stressful because they don’t have respect for the truck driver trying to save lives and do our delivery pickup,” he said.
About 4.5 million Americans are hopping on buses, trains, and cruises this holiday season, the highest number in 20 years. Some families are opting for cruises for their Christmas experience with domestic bookings up 37 percent from last year.