AAA predicts 51 million Americans will be traveling for Thanksgiving

“More importantly, people just love to come to Maine”.

In preparation for the expected 50 mile average journey people will be taking this holiday weekend, vehicle maintenance is crucial for safe journeys.

“During the holiday season, millions of people will travel across the Commonwealth to be with loved ones, and we are making it a priority to keep the roads safe”, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said. AAA says this year, consumers are paying the cheapest average airfare since 2013.

Gas prices are expected to be the highest since 2014 at $2.54, a 37-cent increase compared to November 2016. About 89 percent of holiday travelers, or 45.5 million, will be hitting the road. As of last week, the national gas price range spanned from $2.21 per gallon to $3.22 per gallon according to numbers collected by AAA.

Total Travelers: 1.16 million Tennesseans will travel 50 miles or more; an increase of 3.2% over previous year.

Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster, is projecting near-capacity travel on all trains over the holiday week, Executive Director Patricia Quinn said.

Prepare for partly sunny days around Thanksgiving.

The program runs from Wednesday night through Sunday morning. Snow and ice should also not be an issue over Stevens Pass.

“I was pheasant hunting in upstate NY”.

More of the country will see rain showers on Thursday. Sonny Collins, with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The Northwest will also see showers with rain stretching from Seattle to Jackson Hole.

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that people not wearing a seat belt in either the front or back seat of a vehicle are 30 times more likely to be ejected during a crash.

Travelers should research or keep in mind TSA changes.

“Make sure you have good plans and exercise good judgement”. Check tire pressure, fluids and windshield wipers. So how is the traffic going through the airport terminals? Among the better-known options are having fresh spark plugs, driving at a constant speed on highways, and avoiding quick accelerations and hard braking.

Extra patrols will be on the roads, looking for drunk drivers, while you should always plan a sober ride.

While some destinations will clearly be easier to reach than others, any trip of any duration could be ruined by a lack or preparation or a lack of composure.

Scotland County residents may want to stay home this Thanksgiving.