By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
The turkey isn’t even on the table yet the aroma seems to be luring New Jersey travelers onto roadways, cars full of passengers eager to savor a Thanksgiving meal.
Do you mind being on the road with all these drivers?
“I’m not crazy about it, but I gotta be with my family, that’s important thing,” said Shirley Schiverea.
AAA projects about 1.2 million New Jerseyans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, up only 1 percent from those who traveled for Thanksgiving 2014. Tracy Noble, the spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic said “we’ve seen such an increase over the past 7 years that it just kind of is leveling out at this point.”
Still AAA indicates that’s the largest projected number of travelers since 2007. Nationwide 46.9 million people will be traveling, a slight increase of 0.6 percent over last year. “We’ve seen travel increases all through 2015 cause gas prices were coming down and as gas prices came down, people go back into their cars,” continued Noble.
Low gas prices are encouraging some drivers to travel a bit farther this year too. Today’s current average is $1.96 compared to $2.72 this time last year.
“Doesn’t cost you a lot to go far,” said Jody Zielinski.
“Makes we want to drive!” exclaimed Kenneth Hines.
AAA estimates nationwide consumers are saving $265 million on gas every day, compared to a year ago. Most drivers will pay the lowest prices at the pump this Thanksgiving since 2008.
Most New Jerseyans are planning to hit the road this holiday weekend. Thanksgiving is a short holiday, people, if they’re going to fly, typically fly for Christmas. The idea of potentially sitting in lots of traffic doesn’t scare away some drivers.
Hines continued “It’s the time of year you have to make sacrifices to spend time with the family.”
“Listen I have no problem with traffic I’m retired! You don’t have to be crazy getting from one place to another, you just kind of relax,” added Dennis Pederson.
Still others are happy to stay home for the holidays.
Steven Koval said, “It’s really crazy out there, the traffic, everyone’s in a rush, you know it’s New Jersey driving.”
Blondey Osborne added, “It’s really busy out there and it’s good to be around family so you could settle down and be comfortable.”
Wherever you plan to settle this holiday, Happy Thanksgiving.