With the holiday season, Pennsylvania drivers will be doing a great deal of traveling. Since many people will be traveling by vehicle, this will inevitably raise the volume of vehicles on the road. Statistically, there will be close to 51 million people who travel a minimum of 50 miles for Thanksgiving alone. This is a rise of 3.3 percent from one year ago. In Pennsylvania, there will be a rise of 3.8 percent – 1.5 million people – who are traveling compared with one year ago. This might be associated with seeing family and friends for the holidays, but it is also linked to a rise in the number of car accidents that happen. These can lead to injuries and fatalities and should be thought about when going out on the road.
According to AAA, there will be more than 45 million people on the road. This is a rise of 3.2 percent from 2016. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is expected to have 725,000 people on the road on each of the two days before Thanksgiving. Driving to different locations on the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday and going back on the Sunday after the holiday are the heaviest days. People are advised to have advance plans, but they are also advised to refrain from various behaviors that are prevalent and dangerous.
Law enforcement states that the most common reason for accidents with injuries and death is a distracted driver on the Turnpike. It is not just smartphones and devices that are problematic for this issue, but passengers as well. Anything that diverts a driver’s attention from the road is a distraction. Although gas prices are higher than they were one year ago, the economy is stronger. When people make more money, they can spend more and this can result in holiday travel. More people on the road means more speeding, more reckless driving, and more distracted driving. That can, in turn, cause more crashes.
People who are involved in a crash not just during the Thanksgiving holiday but during the entire time from Thanksgiving though the New Year should be cognizant of the possibility that it was due to one of the above issues as well as because of people driving under the influence. An accident can lead to massive medical bills, lost time at work and long-term problems. Discussing a legal case with an attorney who is experienced in helping those who have been injured in a car accident can help with a legal filing to be compensated.
Source: abc27.com, “AAA expects highest Thanksgiving holiday travel since 2005,” Dawn White, Nov. 20, 2017