The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is gearing up for what's expected to be the busiest Thanksgiving week on record for Texans hitting the road. FOX 7 Austin reports that with over two decades of continuous daily road fatalities, TxDOT is urging travelers to end the streak this holiday season.
An estimated 5.3 million Texans are slated to drive to their destinations, taking advantage of the lowest average gas prices for this time of year since 2020, as per Community Impact, averaging about $2.68 per gallon in the Texas State.
TxDOT Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson remarked the Thanksgiving holiday is "traditionally one of the busiest travel holidays of the year, especially on our highways," as stated by FOX 7 Austin. With record-breaking numbers of people traveling for the holiday, AAA Texas spokesman Daniel Armbruster advised ensuring vehicles are "road trip ready" and equipped with emergency kits. Despite the expected surge, dry skies and fluctuating temperatures are predicted throughout the state, providing at least one layer of reprieve for travelers.
Given the heavy traffic, TxDOT recommends taking advantage of its free roadside assistance via the HERO program on all major roadways from San Marcos to Georgetown. The HERO program can assist with services including clearing accidents, providing tire changes, jumpstarts, water, and phone services to stranded motorists. Joey Campbell from the TxDOT HERO program explained that the assistance includes "clearing debris from the traffic lanes, and providing water and phone services to stranded motorists," as noted by FOX 7 Austin.
As Texas heats up with holiday travels, safety is the top priority. TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams has stern words regarding DUIs: "It's not okay to drink and drive. It's not okay for a friend or family member to go through the death of a loved one at the hands of people who are drinking and driving," in a statement obtained by Community Impact. Officials are working overdrive to mitigate such dangers, with the Texas Department of Public Safety ramping up patrols to catch speeding, drunk driving, and other traffic offenses. They remind everyone to observe the state law requiring drivers to slow down at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit or change lanes for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road.
