Holiday Travel in Georgia: Nearly 3 Million To Hit The Roads Around Christmas

ATLANTA, GA — Nearly 3 million Georgians will hit the roads and take to the skies this holiday season.

That's a 2.4 percent increase over last year and part of a national trend that will make the 2016 holidays the busiest travel season ever, according to AAA.

"This will be the most-traveled year-end holiday season on record, particularly for those who drive," said Joseph J. Richardson Jr., president and CEO of the auto club group.

In all, 103.1 million Americans are expected to make trips of 50 miles or more for the holidays.

According to AAA, the increase in holiday travel this year is being driven by a rise in consumer spending spurred by improvements in the labor market and rising wages.

Low gas prices and increased consumer optimism also are factors in the rise in travel plans, the group says.

In Georgia, an estimated 2,715,505 people will make holiday driving trips, 165,015 will travel by air and 107,510 will travel by other means like train or boat, AAA says.

The year-end holiday travel period is defined as Friday, December 23 to Monday, January 2, 2017 — one fewer day than last year.

For folks planning long road trips, the sting of gas prices won't be as bad as it has in some recent years.

So far this year, AAA says Americans have payed $27 billion less at the gas pumps than last year.

While News Year's prices are expected to be up from last year, most U.S. drivers will pay the second or third-cheapest New Year’s Day gas prices since 2009, when the average was $1.62 nationwide.

AAA expects to rescue more than 980,000 motorists over the 11-day holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.

Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.

The motor group offers these tips for drivers planning holiday trips:

• Check windshield wipers and inspect tires before setting out
• Pack an emergency kit containing a snow shovel, flashlight, ice scraper, jumper cables, warning devices and extra warm clothing for everyone riding in the vehicle
• When driving, slow down and do not tailgate
• Leave following distances to a minimum of five to six seconds to allow additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary
• Minimize distractions while behind the wheel

Weather forecasts in the Atlanta area call for a chance of rain throughout much of the week leading up to Christmas. There will be a 60 percent chance of rain on Thursday, and a 40 percent chance on Christmas Eve.

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