Officials Caution Holiday Travelers About Traffic Delays, Crashes
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Officials are cautioning those traveling for the holidays that this weekend will be one of the busiest for traffic and to expect delays.
More than an estimated a third of Americans are traveling for the holidays in Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike is expecting this year to set a record number of travelers on the road.
Over 6 million drivers are expected to be traveling for the holidays, according to officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Monday and Friday are expected to be the busiest days for the Pennsylvania Turnpike with an estimated 600,000 cars on those days.
If you're traveling the #PATurnpike this week please be aware: #Christmas is one of the busiest travel holidays. Over 6 million motorists will travel the #PATurnpike today through Wed., Jan. 1.
Check the conditions on major roadways at https://t.co/8i0vVNj6EB.#PATurnpikeSafety pic.twitter.com/wrs26IyLpo
— Pennsylvania Turnpike (@PA_Turnpike) December 20, 2019
Several drivers, like Joy O'Donovan from Chicago, hit the roads late Friday night or early Saturday morning to avoid traffic.
"You have to go through downtown Chicago, so it's better to travel in the middle of the night," she said at a service stop along the Turnpike.
Dwyer is in from the Philippines to visit family. He stopped in Detroit and spent the day driving to Virginia.
"Cause we are up at 3 o'clock in the morning, we've been here and just flew here," Mike Dwyer said.
The National Safety Council is also warning drivers to be safe this holiday season as they estimate more than 250 people may die while on the road. They are asking drivers and passenger to buckle up.
Buckle up, slow down, avoid distractions and drive sober. Arrive alive at your #holiday destinations. https://t.co/tZSMQkuOYp #KeepEachOtherSafe pic.twitter.com/kgjBabXUvd
— NSC (@NSCsafety) December 18, 2019
The Turnpike recommends drivers allow for more time to get to their destinations, stay calm, and take breaks.
"Just sit there be patient and wait. Know that you are going to get there. It's all about getting there safely wherever you're going," John Spires from Cleveland said.
Pittsburgh International Airport has also reported that this weekend is one of their busiest with a significant number of people expected to be arriving at and departing from the airport.
