Are you heading somewhere other than your own home for the holidays? There's a good chance you are – at least according to the latest figures from AAA. The organization recently released a report detailing the end-of-year travel forecast.
Who's traveling?
AAA estimated that 98.6 million Americans are going away from home for the holidays. These travelers aren't going down the street either, as this figure represents those who are journeying more than 50 miles away from home. Additionally, about 91 percent of these people will be driving to their destinations, translating to almost 90 million people on the roads from Dec. 23 to Jan. 4, according to the report.
The organization noted that the travel volume will be the highest since 2001, when AAA began recording the data. Much of that is due to low gas prices, relatively affordable used car rates and the rebounding economy.
"'Tis the season for holiday travel, and this year more Americans will join with friends and family to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year than ever before," said Marshall Doney, AAA president and chief operating officer. "While the economy continues to improve at an uneven pace, it seems more Americans are looking forward with increasing consumer confidence, rather than looking back at the recession. This is helping to drive expected travel volumes to the highest level we have seen for the year-end holidays."
Who gets stopped?
There are many reasons why you may find your road trip sidetracked. Among the most common is car breakdowns – and those incidents will impact a fair number of drivers this winter. AAA estimated that it will have to aid more than 1.1 million drivers during the holiday season. Although some of these motorists will run into unavoidable circumstances, others may have breakdowns that could have been prevented.
Before you head out on the highway, schedule an appointment with NJ State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center. This garage caters to the public and is capable of addressing any issues you may have, even if it's just some simple preventative maintenance. The experts can make sure you have peace of mind – and a capable vehicle – before your journey begins.