As that perennial favorite Christmas song, No Place Like Home for the Holidays, goes:
“From Atlantic to Pacific, gee, the traffic is terrific.”
AAA expects nearly a third of all Americans — 103 million of us — will hit the road between Friday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 2. That’s about 1.5 million more than a year ago. Automobile trips will account for 91 percent of holiday travelers, 93.6 million, up 1.5 percent compared to last year, according to AAA.
The increase is due to an improved labor market, rising wages and increased consumer spending, according to AAA. While gas prices are higher this year, $2.22 per gallon nationwide average compared to $2.01 in 2015, gas is still relatively cheap and helping to motivate lots of drivers to take a trip, said the association.
Travel won’t be so merry for many drivers over the holidays. AAA expects to recuse more than 980,000 motorists over the 11-day holiday travel period with the top reasons for breakdowns flat tires, dead batteries and lockouts.
