Holiday travel on the rise, AAA urges drivers to stay safe

MARYLAND – We’re less than a week away from thanksgiving and that means many will be hitting the road to feast with family.

AAA is predicting 1 million Marylanders will be on the road this year. More than 90% of travelers will be driving to their destination and that’s despite the gas price trending upward.

An official with AAA tells us just how much families will be paying at the pump this Thanksgiving. “Maryland gas price average today is trending at about $3.67 a gallon that’s 32 cents more than what we were paying this time last year, however, it is a significant drop,” says Ragina Ali, the Manager, Public and Government Affairs for AAA.

Historically increased gas prices keep drivers off the road but not this time around. However, AAA says air travel increased by nearly 6 percent.

With an increase of drivers on the road, it’s important that drivers make sure their cars are road ready. “Nationwide AAA expects to probably more than 400,000 motorists across the nation, here in Maryland that number is a bit closer to 7,000 so we really want travelers that are driving to their holiday destinations to make sure that their cars are road ready,” says Ali.

Ali says that drivers should also keep in mind the Maryland Move Over Law that was recently updated. Make sure if you see a driver pulled off on the side of the road you switch lanes. To see the full holiday travel forecast, click here.