Thanksgiving week typically generates more car accidents in Pittsburgh and throughout the U.S. for multiple reasons. The first reality is the law of numbers. Millions of drivers traverse the U.S. to get to Thanksgiving feasts with friends and families. Auto club, AAA, estimates that 90 percent of these travelers use their cars to get to their holiday destinations.
The volume of autos on the highways increases the risk of car accidents, before factoring in the additional dangers. Turkey and the fixings get many people off their couches and into their vehicles. As traffic volume increases, an increasing number of crashes follow.
Compounding the risk, many drivers are navigating unfamiliar roadways. While interstate highways were designed to minimize this risk, many other unfamiliar roads can generate driver confusion and uncertainty. Confusion and uncertainty invariably lead to driver judgment errors. These errors often lead to serious or fatal accidents.
Another contributor to deadly holiday accidents is driver fatigue. The frequently long distances that holiday travelers must negotiate lead to tired drivers. Fatigue when behind the wheel can lead to slow reaction times and/or poor driving decisions. Both of these issues typically generate increased car crashes.
Many experts believe the highway volume will be down this year as the economy remains in the doldrums. However, historical statistics indicate that Thanksgiving week, in good economies and bad, record traffic fatality increases of 20 percent or more. Drivers leaving on Wednesdays before Thanksgiving endure trips taking 26 percent longer than on regular weekdays.
High gas prices do little to reduce the dramatic traffic increase. Some metropolitan areas will have less volume, but the number of vehicles on roadways will still increase. The holiday week projects increased car accidents and fatalities.
Are you traveling during the holiday week? How far are you going? Are you well-acquainted with the highways you'll be traversing? Will you increase your concentration behind the wheel because of higher traffic volume?
Source: USA Today, "Thanksgiving week one of deadliest on the highway," Larry Copeland, Nov. 18, 2012