Summary
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has warned that the Thanksgiving holiday period is a particularly dangerous time for road travel. Almost 82 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during this time. AAA and other organizations emphasize the importance of avoiding impaired driving and taking safety precautions.
Key Facts
- AAA warns that Thanksgiving is the busiest and one of the most dangerous times for road travel.
- About 82 million people in the U.S. plan to travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving.
- Drunk-driving crashes caused 868 deaths between 2019 and 2023 during Thanksgiving.
- Travelers are advised to use sober drivers, rideshare services, or public transportation.
- AAA suggests traveling in the morning and being mindful of traffic and weather conditions.
- Last Thanksgiving, AAA responded to around 600,000 roadside assistance calls.
- The National Safety Council estimates 439 traffic deaths over the Thanksgiving period, a decrease from last year.
- Seat belts, when used, could prevent nearly half of potential fatalities for front-seat passengers.
