If you’re planning a Thanksgiving road trip, you might want to pack some extra patience along with your pumpkin pie. New research from Allstate shows that millions of Americans hitting the road this season could face heavier traffic, riskier driving, and a few surprising congestion hot spots. Phone use, speeding, and hard braking are all expected to jump 10% or more as drivers race to get to grandma’s house (or flee from it).
“Distraction and urgency tend to spike during holiday travel,” says Allstate safety expert Brian Tidwell, which is a polite way of saying people drive like turkeys when they’re in a hurry.
When (and When Not) to Hit the Road:
- Allstate’s Drivewise program tracked about 2-million trips to find out when things get the most hectic and timing really does make a difference.
- Best bet: Drive at night (7 p.m. to 1 a.m.) or early morning for fewer cars and calmer roads.
- Best to avoid: 11 a.m.–3 p.m., a.k.a. prime “Turkey Jam” hours.
- Tricky moments: Tuesday and Sunday nights mean more phone distractions, Sunday morning sees speeding spike up to 11%, and Thursday midday brings a surge in hard braking.
- So basically, if you can travel while everyone else is eating, napping, or arguing about football, you’re golden.
Traffic this holiday is expected to surge by roughly 50% in major cities, with places like Phoenix, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, and Jacksonville, Florida, seeing some of the biggest slowdowns, an average 46% jump in out-of-state drivers last year. And if you’re on the road the Monday before Thanksgiving, brace yourself, because roadside assistance calls jump 20%, mostly for dead batteries and flat tires. Allstate’s advice? Prep your car early, skip the lunch rush, keep your cool, and remember: safe driving beats stressful driving every time.
Source: Allstate