More Americans flocking to roads

With more disposable income in their pockets than years past, some 2.2 million travelers are expected to hit IL roads over the Thanksgiving holiday, from Wednesday to Sunday, said AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher.

With all 50 states averaging no more than $2.83 a gallon, drivers have saved $100 billion at the pump so far this year-even as Americans put more miles on the odometer.

“I think they’re going to be screening a lot tougher, a lot more intense and this is going to cause more delays”, says Joe Weigler, owner of Shadyside Travel.

With the amount of Americans estimated to be on the road, it’s an increase of 0.7 percent from past year. During the same week a year ago, a barrel or oil averaged $35 higher, and gasoline was 73 cents more expensive. A travel agent from AAA of Kinston said that could be due to low fuel prices. If you live your life in fear and if you don’t travel like you would normally then they’ve already won.

“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, and this year’s gonna be no different”, Nick Jarmusz with AAA Wisconsin said. Oil prices averaged $40.82 last week, the lowest weekly average since August.

Among Washington’s major metro areas, Richland had the lowest average price at $2.28 a gallon while Seattle was the highest at $2.55 a gallon. Amtrak carried 772,000 people during last year’s holiday season, a record for the company, and leaders there expect about the same number this year, said Marc Magliari, a spokesman.

The group is recommending against traveling out of the country for the holiday after the U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide travel warning to all citizens after it was announced that terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS are planning attacks in various parts of the world. They left Tuesday morning for a performance in the Macy’s Day parade in NY City. According to AAA, Wednesday will be the busiest travel day; however, there are a few steps travelers can follow to get out of town as quickly and safely as possible.

The Russian Metrojet crash in Egypt on October 31 prompted security enhancements at airports overseas that have flights to the United States, Johnson said. Bernhardt says in 60 percent of fatal crashes in the state this year the person who was killed was not wearing a seat belt.