The holiday travel rush is ramping up, with Monday one of the last crazy-busy travel days of the season.
Between Dec. 19 and Jan. 2, nearly 40 million passengers are expected to take to the skies this holiday travel season, with Monday one of the three busiest days. Overall, air travel has increased by 6% this season, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Still, most travelers are driving, according to the American Automobile Association.
With the increases, there are also troubling trends connected with holiday travel, as New Jersey State Police report a significant rise in traffic fatalities across the state.
State Police said a total of 678 people have died in traffic incidents this year, marking a 13% increase from the same period last year. The total number includes 218 pedestrians, a 33% increase from the previous year. The state Division of Highway Traffic Safety said speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving are the chief causes for the increases.
