93.3 Million Americans Take To The Road Over The Holidays

According to AAA, one out of every four Americans will hit the road between December 22, 2012 and January 1, 2013. This means that approximately 93.3 million people will take a trip of over 50 miles from their home, as 2012 comes to an end. This is an increase of nearly 2%, up from 91.8 million in 2011.

The majority of the travelers (84 million) will be traveling by automobile, representing approximately 27% of the entire population of the United States. These numbers have remained very consistent for the last decade. There was only one year where the fluctuation was more than 5%.

The year-end season is the least affected time for travel due to high gasoline prices or other economic issues. Robert Darbelnet, the CEO of AAA, says that people will always make it home at this time of the year. AAA is expecting more and more Americans to stuff their stockings with airline tickets and hotel reservations, as economic indicators are trending upward.

With the increased traffic on America’s roadways, the American Trucking Association has gotten involved with the distribution of materials advising motorists to stay out of trucker’s blind spots and avoiding cutting in front of trucks, among other things. It is also advisable to have an emergency kit in your vehicle in case of an accident.

Remember, the driver of an 80,000 pound 18 wheeler traveling at highway speeds cannot stop on a dime. FedEx Freight professional driver Dion Saiz acknowledges that driving during the holidays is challenging. Everyone is anxious to visit their families for one last visit in 2012 or finish up shopping the year-end sales. His best advice to all is to remain focused and be patient.

Another Share the Road Professional Driver, Dennis Martin with UPS Freight, simply advises everyone to “buckle up” and be aware of the weather conditions that you are going to be facing on your trip.

With over 25% of the U.S. population being on the roadways, it is inevitable that accidents are going to occur no matter how cautious motorists and truckers are. Accidents involving a couple of passenger cars are serious enough but collisions between passenger cars and 18 wheelers often have catastrophic results. Simply because of the size difference alone, a passenger car or a pickup truck is no match for an 18 wheeler. Unfortunately, tragic often disabling injuries and even fatalities can result when the two collide.

If you or a family member is involved in an accident during this busy holiday season, it is important that you seek the advice of an attorney experienced in handling complicated automobile and truck collisions.

Carabin Shaw is an established San Antonio law firm that has been helping clients throughout Texas who have suffered catastrophic injuries and tragic wrongful deaths for 20 years. Let our experienced team of attorneys and caring staff help you during this difficult time.

All of our cases are handled on a contingency basis so that you will never owe us a fee unless we get you a recovery.

Other Resources:

More than One in Four Americans to Take a Road Trip This Holiday Season, Truckinginfo.com, December 21, 2012
Related Blog Posts:

Thanksgiving Day Pileup: Deadly Evidence of Accidents At Interstate Speeds , Texas Injury Lawyers Blog, December 3, 2012
Last Day Without A Fatality On Texas Roads Was 12 Years Ago , Texas Injury Lawyers Blog, November 9, 2012