DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — AAA estimates that 54.6 million people travel by roadways for Thanksgiving weekend. The increased amount of travelers is almost a record-breaking average.
Despite inflation and memories of past holiday travel meltdowns, millions of people are expected to hit airports and highways in record numbers. Officials want drivers to keep in mind safety tips before they head out the door.
According to the Red Cross America, here are some safety tips:
- Make sure your car is in good condition for a road trip.
- Pack an emergency preparedness kit, supplies and a first aid kit in your vehicle.
- Share travel plans with a family member or friend.
- Check the weather before departing and along your route. Plan for travel around any storms that may be coming.
- Buckle up, slow down and don’t drive impaired.
- Follow the rules of the road and use caution in work zones.
- If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.
- Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running to help rescuers see the vehicle.
- Keep one window, away from the blowing wind, slightly open to let in fresh air.
- Carry an emergency preparedness kit in the trunk.
- Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
Fritzi Schreffler, spokesperson for PennDOT, says that these PSAs aren't anything new, but most of the crashes that occur can be preventable if drivers heed their caution. She also says that even if you are a vigilant driver, weather conditions could alter or cancel your plan altogether.
“Because of the rain there still may be slick in some areas especially with the heat up some of the temperatures if the sun doesn’t reach certain places, so we want you to be a little bit more cautious than normal and back off of the person in front of you. Not the time to speed—same things we always tell people,” said Schreffler.
But if you want to skip the traffic this Thanksgiving, Amtrak might be the way to go.
They said they're expecting thousands of customers to depart from Pennsylvania this week and nearly 800,000 across the country. Amtrak says Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day are their two busiest travel days of the year.
Amtrak is also adding more service and extra cars to existing trains from now to November 27. The Keystone Line is specifically offering extended holiday capacity and require advanced reservations.
Travelers at Lancaster Train Station on Wednesday were excited to give the rails a chance.
"The experience is amazing and you can see the beautiful landscapes while you go around the tracks," said Ryan Nafziger, a young traveler with his dad and sister. "It's more spacious than a car and you can sit down or walk around and it's just a very enjoyable experience."