AAA Mid-Atlantic projections indicate that over 2.4 million New Jersey residents will travel 50 miles or more from home for Christmas and New Year’s, an increase  of 4.4% over last year’s statistics. Nationwide 98.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, an increase of 4% from the 94.8 million people who traveled last year.

This upward trend marks the highest forecast growth rate for the year-end holiday season since 2009 and the highest travel volume for the holiday period on record. (AAA data dates back to 2001.) The year-end holiday period is defined as Tuesday, December 23 to Sunday, January 4. This 13-day period is one day longer than in 2013 and two days longer than the 11-day periods seen in 2010 to 2012.

Projected New Jersey Travel by transportation mode:

• By Automobile:
  • 2,188,144; or, 90% of all travelers
    • Up 4.7% compared to 2013.
• By Air:
  • 156,747; or, 6.5% of all travelers.
    • Up 1.2% compared to 2013.
• By Other Mode:
  • 81,377; or, 3.4% of all travelers.
    • Up 2.9% compared to 2013.

“’Tis the season for holiday travel, and this year more Americans will join with friends and family to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year than ever before,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “While the economy continues to improve at an uneven pace, it seems more Americans are looking forward with increasing consumer confidence, rather than looking back at the recession. This is helping to drive expected travel volumes to the highest level we have seen for the year-end holidays.”

Impact of gasoline prices on travel plans

Today’s New Jersey average gas price is at the lowest level in five years, a welcome gift for holiday travelers. Gas prices have fallen for the last several months, helping to increase Americans’ disposable income 3.5% from year-ago levels, which has had a positive effect on travel.

“Lower gas prices are filling stockings with a little more cash to spend on travel this year as travelers are expected to pay the lowest prices since 2009,” continued Noble. “Lower prices are increasing disposable income and enabling families to set aside money for travel.”

Highlights from AAA National 2014/15 Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast include:

• Holiday travel is expected to total 98.6 million, an increase of 4% from the 94.8 million who traveled last year.
• Travel volume for the year-end holidays will reach the highest peak recorded by AAA (since 2001).
• Nearly 91% of all travelers (89.5 million) will celebrate the holidays with a road trip, an increase of 4.2% from 2013.
• Air travel is forecast to grow 1% from 2013, with 5.7 million travelers taking to the skies.
• Low gas prices continue to help boost disposable income this holiday season, with today’s national average price of gas at $2.48 per gallon, 74 cents less than a year ago.

AAA expects to rescue 1.1 million motorists during the holiday season

Between December 21 and January 1, AAA expects to come to the rescue of 1.1 million motorists nationally with the primary reasons for breakdowns being dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. In the Mid-Atlantic region AAA expects to rescue over 74,000 motorists; with 19,500 in New Jersey.  AAA recommends motorists check battery and tire condition and prepare vehicles for winter driving before heading out on a holiday getaway. Car care tips and information are available at AAA.com.

The calendar is having a positive effect on the number of travelers expected this year. This year the holidays land on a Thursday, creating a holiday travel season that is one day longer than last year’s and the longest since 2008, offering travelers more options for departures and return trips. This flexibility makes it possible for more people to fit holiday travel into their schedules.

With more than 90 percent of holiday travelers driving to their destinations, AAA urges everyone on the road to be extra diligent about the dangers of impaired driving. According to the latest data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, one in eight of all licensed drivers who drink at least occasionally reported having driven when they thought their alcohol level might have been close to, or possibly over, the legal limit in the past year.

The survey also reveals 91 percent of drivers consider impaired driving to be unacceptable, with 42 percent reporting that drunk drivers are a bigger problem today versus three years ago.  “Despite the ubiquitous warnings about drinking and driving, especially during the holiday season, an average of one alcohol-impaired driving death occurs every 45 minutes,” said Noble.