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This Thanksgiving Will See The Most SoCal Travelers On The Road Since 2007
Heading north on the 405 freeway. (Photo by fourbyfourblazer via the LAist Featured Photos pool)
Hopefully you have your travel plans laid out already, because this Thanksgiving will see the most Angelenos on the road in nine years.According to a report released by the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA SoCal) on Thursday, 3.14 million people in Southern California will hit the road to go home for crappy football games, turkey, and terrible political conversations with uncles they don't really like. This represents an uptick of 3.4 percent over last year. There will also be a slight uptick in air travelers, with a total of 389,000 people flying to their destinations for the weekend.
Because of a generally improving economy, more people are expected to get out town. "There's increased consumer confidence, increased wages, increased disposable income, and for most of this year we've been paying significantly lower gas prices since the recession of '08-'09," Marie Montgomery, a spokesperson for AAA SoCal, told LAist. "So that's put more money in our pockets."
As anyone who has driven during the week of Thanksgiving knows, the two days before Thanksgiving are the absolute worst. "If you can avoid those days and the [following] Sunday coming back into town, we do advise that you travel during off-peak periods," said Montgomery. "If you want to leave and drive at night or super-early in the morning, we'd advise getting at least five hours of sleep. Drowsy driving is as bad as drunk driving."
And of course, air travelers should expect delays despite flying above all the drivers. Security checkpoint lines will be worse than they already are, and the seasonal weather could create delays.
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Safe travels, wherever it is you're going next week, LAist readers. And say hi to your mom for me.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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