Record breaking year for Thanksgiving travelers

Triple-A is predicting another record breaking year for Thanksgiving travelers.

Nationwide, they expect just over 50-million Americans will travel 50 miles or further to spend the holiday with friends and family.

That’s a 3.3% increase over last year.

This year’s travel period begins tonight at 6 p.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

Harris Blackwood is with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

He says that means the potential for more wrecks and fatalities on Georgia roads this weekend as people rush to get to their destinations.

During the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday weekend the Georgia State Patrol investigated 648 traffic crashes that resulted in 347 injuries and 16 traffic fatalities.

Colonel Mark W. McDonough, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety offers four tips to make sure you arrive safely.

First, allow extra time to get there.

McDonough said by planning for extra time you won’t feel rushed.

Second, wear your seatbelt.

And driving sober, according to Colonel McDonough, is the third safety measure you can take  before getting behind the wheel this weekend.

And finally, McDonough warns against texting while driving.

He advises waiting to check your texts, social media or emails until you stop to eat or get gas, or you reach your destination.