Thanksgiving is next Thursday, November 22, 2018. Of course, this means many of us here in Indiana and Illinois will be hitting the road beginning this weekend, to enjoy the holiday with family and friends.
When Does Your Thanksgiving Holiday Start This Year?
Officially, the Thanksgiving Holiday extends from Wednesday, November 21, 2018, to Sunday, November 25, 2018. Researchers consider only this time period for their analysis of travel concerns and safety issues over this holiday period.
Nevertheless, for many Hoosiers and those living in Illinois, the holiday may begin as early as tomorrow, as we leave work on Friday afternoon to begin making our way to family gatherings or football parties.
After all, our Illinois Fighting Illini will host the Iowa Hawkeyes beginning at 2:30 this Saturday, while the Indiana Hoosiers play Minnesota that same afternoon, returning home to play the Purdue Boilermakers on November 24th.
Roads Will See Highest Number of Travelers Since 2005
The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts there will be more people traveling over the 2018 Thanksgiving Holiday than any year since 2005. In fact, AAA forecasts as many as 54,300,000 Americans will travel at least 50 miles away from home in celebration of Thanksgiving this year.
This means that the danger of serious or fatal motor vehicle accidents on the roadways of Indiana and Illinois begins to rise as early as tomorrow and steadily increases for the following week to ten days.
Experts Warn of the Rising Danger of Fatal Thanksgiving Traffic Accidents
From Itasca, Illinois, comes a new warning from the National Safety Council, which estimates 433 people may die and 49,400 may be seriously injured in car crashes during the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday period.
The NSC is concerned that 2018 may break records for the number of traffic fatalities during the Thanksgiving Holiday travel period. Last year, more people died in motor vehicle accidents while driving over Thanksgiving than any other time of the year except for the Fourth of July.
To review NSC’s detailed data reports concerning Thanksgiving 2018 fatality predictions, check out its series on online data tables and corresponding graphics that include comparisons of this time period to other holidays throughout the year as well as past year November traffic statistics.
Given that AAA is predicting more people will be driving over Thanksgiving 2018 than the past 13 years, and the NSC’s statistics confirming the upcoming week is the second most dangerous time period for traffic fatalities, clearly we all face a serious risk of a car crash as we drive the roads of Illinois and Indiana over this holiday.
Driving Over the Thanksgiving Holiday: What are the Biggest Dangers?
Drivers in Indiana and Illinois will need to be alert and aware of several different factors that are increasing the danger of a serious or fatal car crash over the next week to ten days. These include:
- Danger from Those Driving Under the Influence
Of particular concern are those who will get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As we have discussed in prior posts, festive occasions invite many to have an alcoholic beverage or two and many will be tempted to drive after taking some form of drug (legal or illegal). Even over the counter medications can impair a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.
From Deborah A.P. Hersman, CEO of the National Safety Council:
“Everyone wants a holiday to remember, but not for the wrong reasons. Let’s keep our holiday gatherings out of the emergency room by making smart decisions that don’t involve drinking and driving. Plan ahead so you don’t put yourself or others at risk on the road.”
- Danger from Congested Roads and Frustrated or Exhausted Drivers
Another concern is the frustrations that many drivers may face with the increased number of vehicles on the roads. It is predicted that travel times in some cities may be as much as four times longer than a normal trip.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is expected to have the highest number of travelers on the road, which means the greatest risk of an accident due to driver frustration or exhaustion. However, many cities are predicted to have the worst traffic congestion on Wednesday afternoon.
From Trevor Reed, transportation analyst at INRIX:
“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and this year will be no different. Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic. Our advice to drivers is to avoid commuting times in major cities altogether or plan alternative routes.”
Safety Tips for Those Driving Over the Thanksgiving Holiday
Obviously, planning ahead for any extended drive by knowing your route and having your car serviced are good things to do in preparation for your holiday trip. Given the safety warnings for this particular holiday, here are some suggestions from both the NSC and the Indiana Department of Transportation:
- Buckle Up. Insist that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up and that children are properly restrained in their safety seats. See, “Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Rates Booster Seats: Kids Up to 12 Years Old May Need to Ride in a Booster Seat for Safety.”
- Stay Off the Phone. Do not use your phone; even talking via a hands-free phone is dangerous. See “Injury Facts Report Published by National Safety Council: Surprising Findings Include Distracted Driving Dangers for Hands-Free Phones.”
- Don’t Drive Drowsy. Make sure you are driving with your full mental capacities: get a good rest the night before starting the trip and take rest breaks while en route as needed. See “Drowsy Driving and the Risk of Fatal Traffic Accidents in Indiana and Illinois.”
- Check The Weather and Road Conditions. Keep track of weather forecasts and the current road conditions (maybe it is wise to avoid areas of highway construction even if the trip takes longer). See “Illinois Hosts National Work Zone Accident Awareness Week: Kick Off at Chicago’s Circle Interchange,” and check out Indiana’s online real-time site, TrafficWise, for current traffic conditions. Illinois also has road closure and work zone information online but it is not in real-time.
- Be Ready for an Emergency. Make sure to prepare a complete emergency vehicle kit in case you have trouble on the road or you hit an unexpected weather or road hazard situation. For a list of things to include in this kit, read “Prepare Now for the Danger of Serious Winter Weather Accidents.”
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Let’s all be careful out there and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!
