AAA Mid-Atlantic projections indicate that almost 2.5 million New Jersey residents will travel 50 miles or more from home for the Holidays, an increase of 2.4% over last year’s statistics. Nationwide 100.5 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, an increase of 1.4% from the 99.1 million people who traveled last year.
This upward trend marks the seventh consecutive year of year-end holiday travel growth and the highest travel volume for the holiday period on record. (AAA data dates back to 2001.) The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, December 23, 2015 to Sunday, January 3, 2016.
Projected Travel by transportation mode:
By Automobile:
- New Jersey – 2,232,677 or 90% of all travelers, up 2.5% compared to 2014
- National – 91 million or 90% of all travelers, up 1.4% over last year
By Air:
- New Jersey – 156,104 or 6.3% of all travelers, up 0.7% compared to 2014
- National – 5.7 million or 5.7% of all travelers, up 0.7% over last year
By Other Mode:
- New Jersey – 82,056 or 3.3% of all travelers up 2.2% compared to 2014
- National – 3.4 million or 3.4% of all travelers up 2.4% over last year
“The holidays are a time for joining with friends and family, and the record number of people traveling this holiday should make for a joyous travel season,” said Tracy E. Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Rising incomes and low gas prices are helping to fill stockings this year, and more people than ever will choose to spend those savings on travel this year.”
Impact of gasoline prices on travel plans
Today’s New Jersey average gas price of $1.89 per gallon is at the lowest level since 2009 and is almost 60 cents lower than last year, a welcome gift for holiday travelers. Gas prices have fallen for the last several months, helping to increase Americans’ disposable income which has had a positive effect on travel.
#AAA expects to rescue 900,000 motorists during the holiday season
AAA expects to rescue nearly 900,000 motorists during the 12-day year-end holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being tows, dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. Last year, AAA Mid-Atlantic rescued more than 63,000 motorists; with 15,000 in New Jersey. AAA recommends motorists check the condition of their battery, windshield wipers and tires before heading out on a holiday getaway. It’s also a good idea to pack a road kit before you leave. This kit can include items like – a sack of sand or cat litter, flashlight with extra batteries, first-aid kit, windshield scraper and brush, emergency flares/reflectors, jumper cables, small shovel, blankets, extra gloves, hats, and scarves, drinking water and snacks, and a cell phone car charger.
AAA cautions against impaired driving this holiday season
With more than 90 percent of holiday travelers driving to their destinations, AAA urges everyone on the road to be extra diligent about the dangers of impaired driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s Traffic Safety Culture Index, one in five licensed drivers (21%) who drink at least occasionally reported having driven when they thought their alcohol level might have been close to, or possibly over, the legal limit in the past year.
“As we celebrate the holiday season, AAA urges travelers to be cautious about their safety and the safety of everyone sharing the roadways,” said Noble. “Ninety-seven percent of licensed drivers consider it unacceptable to drive when they may have had too much to drink, yet there is an average of one alcohol-impaired driving death every 53 minutes.”
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