Why you'll see troopers every 20 miles on I-40 for Thanksgiving travel
Here's a look at how many people will be traveling and what officials are doing to get people to and from their Thanksgiving destinations safely.
Posted — UpdatedThanksgiving travel this year will be the busiest it has been in decades, and Wednesday is one of the busiest days to fly and drive.
Here's a look at how many people will be traveling and what officials are doing to get people to and from their Thanksgiving destinations safely.
By car
About 1.4 million North Carolinians will be driving for Thanksgiving, and, according to AAA, Wednesday is the most dangerous travel day.
A new multi-state safety campaign will place troopers every 20 miles along Interstate-40. The N.C. State Highway Patrol has teamed up with seven other states along the I-40 corridor to watch for speeding (the number one cause of most crashes) and reckless drivers.
The goal is to have zero deadly accidents the entire week. If you see impaired or reckless driving, you can contact a trooper by dialing * HP.
When it comes to traffic, the earlier drivers leave town on Wednesday the better. Above all else, be sure to drive safely. According to the NCDOT, the "Click It or Ticket" campaign is underway for the holiday to encourage drivers to use seatbelts.
The NCDOT has suspended most road construction projects for the holiday weekend in an effort to alleviate congestion.
The roads are also going to be busy as drivers take advantage of lower gas prices this year. The average gas price in North Carolina Wednesday was $2.52 per gallon.
By air
At RDU International, lines were already forming in terminals overnight and early Wednesday. Airport officials are urging travelers to get to the airport early and allow extra time to avoid stress for everyone.
A spokeswoman for RDU told WRAL News that 44,000 passengers will travel through the airport Wednesday. High volumes are also expected on Saturday, Sunday and Monday as people return to the Triangle.
According to American Airlines, the busiest flying day is projected to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with an estimated 3.06 million passengers trying to get home.
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