AAA TEXAS PREDICTING RECORD AMOUNT OF HOLIDAY TRAVELERS
This past weekend kicked off what AAA Texas believes will be a record-breaking season of holiday travel.
The organization projects that 9.3 million people across Texas will be travelling between December 21st and January 1st, with 8.6 million of those hitting the road. These travel projections are AAA Texas’ highest since it began tracking travel data in 2000.
According to global transportation analytics company INRIX, delays will be the worst on Thursday, December 26th, with afternoon delays reaching nearly double congestion-free drive times in many major U.S. cities. Houston roadways—namely I-69 West—are projected to have some of the most congested corridors in the country. INRIX projects I-69 West will see more than seven times the normal delays on Thursday, just before 5 p.m.
AAA Texas General Manager Kent Livesay says that Texas’ strong economy, paired with cheap gas prices, are giving confidence to travelers.
TxDOT reminds drivers to take precautions, as the crowded roadways can lead to an increase in fatal crashes. Since 2014, TxDOT has tracked 195 deaths on roadways around the Christmas holiday, with 211 fatalities around the new year.