‘It’s going to be busy’: Courtesy, caution are key while traveling during the busy holiday season
The holiday travel season is here and many people will be hitting the road or the skies to see family and friends.
Wednesday is the busiest travel day of the year
A crash on Interstate 40 West in Durham near NC-55 closed all lanes of the roadway. Officials said the roadway is expected to reopen just before 9:30 p.m.
Another crash in Orange County along I-85 near US-70 had traffic down to one lane. Traffic was expected to be delayed through 10:20 p.m.
All lanes of Jones-Franklin Road have reopened after being blocked off to just one lane. Traffic was expected to be delayed through about 5 p.m.
Multiple fender-benders were reported on I-40 eastbound from Raleigh on Wednesday afternoon. Traffic was crawling through Johnston County.
Wake County Deputy Beckley Vaughn said, “Travelers are ready to get to their destination. We want them to get there safely. We want them to slow down and be a little more courteous. If you’re being a little more courteous, traffic may flow easier.”
Traffic on Wednesday is expected to be 14% heavier than usual between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with peak traffic from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- The Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] said there are more than 50,000 flights scheduled on Wednesday across the country. It’s one of the busiest travel days of the year. >> Track any flight at any US airport
- More than 400 flights are scheduled Wednesday at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
- AAA predicts more than 2 million North Carolinians will hit the road this week.
- Gas is about 5 to 10 cents cheaper per gallon this Thanksgiving, compared to last year
- The best time to travel is in the morning.
Tap to watch: Thanksgiving travel rush hits Wake County roads
WRAL News spoke with travelers before heading into security.
Traveler Lasteshia Bastien said she changed her Christmas travel plans because of concern about the government shutdown earlier this month, but she is grateful her Thanksgiving plans are not being impacted.
“We were planning to go to Ghana for Christmas, so we postponed that until next year,” Bastien said. “We were very grateful the government shutdown did end, so we went ahead and continued our plans for Orlando.”
Nia Simpson said, when the government shutdown impacted flights, her group made a backup plan, so they could still make it to New York for Thanksgiving.
“We came up with a game plan,” Simpson said. “We got a rental car at Enterprise, and we were ready to drive today.”
If you are traveling by plane:
- Check every pocket in case TSA-restricted items, like full-sized bottles, were left behind from a previous trip.
- If you’re traveling with gifts, wrap at them at your destination because TSA agents may need to open them.
- Check the “feels like” temperature for a better sense of the weather so you know how to pack
- Don’t forget a REAL ID is required to fly within the U.S., or you’ll need to bring another accepted form of ID, like a passport or military ID. Those without REAL ID may have to pay a fee.
- Download your airline’s app to track your flight status, and check it regularly as your travel date approaches. That way, if your flight is canceled the day before, you can quickly look for alternatives.
More air travel helpful tips
If you are traveling by car:
“It’s going to be busy,” said Tiffany Wright, AAA spokesperson.
AAA projects 1.3 million more travelers will be on the roads than last year, pushing the total number of people traveling by car to at least 73 million.
“We expect 2 .3 million North Carolinians traveling at least 50 miles or more away from home,” Wright said. “Of that number, we estimate that over 2 .1 million of those will be traveling by vehicle. So it’s going to be busy out there, especially around our metro areas.”
Before you hit the road, AAA recommends:
- Checking your car battery and fluids
- Getting on the road with a full tank of gas
- Getting on the road as early as possible to avoid traffic
Last year, AAA said, it responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls during the Thanksgiving travel period to help drivers stranded by dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks.
When is the busiest time to hit the road?
Wright says Tuesday and Wednesday will be the busiest travel days. She recommended driving early or late if you can.
“I’m talking about those times from like 12 to 8 o ‘clock — that’s when you’re going to see just a steady flow of traffic,” she said.
“I know that’s a pretty big time frame. But if your travel plans allow you to leave early in the morning or later in the evening, that’s when you might experience a little less congestion.”
Those with a shorter trip have an advantage.
“If your travel plans allow you to drive to your destination on Thanksgiving Day, there’ll be minimal traffic as everybody’s already pretty much at their destinations,” Wright said. “That’s when you’ll see minimal traffic.”
According to an AP analysis of Google Maps shows an expected spike during the return trip as well. If you can, avoid driving from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, when traffic is heaviest.
There is a bright spot, and that comes in cheaper gas prices.
“We’re looking at saving anywhere between 5 to 10 cents per gallon versus this time last year,” Wright said. “I guess you could say Christmas comes early at the pump.”
Helpful links for hitting the road:
If you drink, have a plan to get around safely
Wright says impaired driving rises during the holiday season, when family and friends get together and even those who rarely drink tend to imbibe.
She pointed out that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving tends to be a time for gatherings.
“This is a very dangerous time to be on the road,” she said.
“Please make sure that if you’re going to drink that have a plan — you’ve designated a sober driver or you use a rideshare service, because there’s no reason anybody should be getting behind the wheel impaired during this holiday season,” Wright said.
