AAA Estimates 2 Million Michigan Residents Have Holiday Travel Plans

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 17, 2007 -- An estimated 2 million Michigan residents -- about the same number as last year -- will travel 50 miles or more from home during the upcoming Christmas holiday, according to AAA's latest travel survey.

Most travelers will take a car, truck or van to their final destinations this year (90 percent), while fewer will go by air (10 percent). High gas prices will hit the holiday pocketbook a little harder than last year.

"Whether driving or flying, travelers face steep increases in their travel budgets this season," said Claire Lockley, vice president of Travel for The Auto Club Group (ACG). "Gasoline prices remain at unprecedented levels for this time of year, with prices of $3 a gallon or more a common sight across much of the country. Airfares averaging 16 percent more than last Christmas mean that bargains may be harder to find for those who are flying to their final destination."

  Other survey findings:
   -- The largest share of Christmas travelers nationwide will leave on
      Friday, December 21, spending an average of 5.8 nights away from home.

   -- The average price for an airline ticket is up 16 percent for travel
      during the week of Christmas and 9 percent during New Year's.

   -- Hotel rates for AAA-Rated Three Diamond hotels climbed 4 percent and 9
      percent respectively compared with Christmas and New Year's a year
      ago.

Michigan motorists can expect to pay 76 cents more for a gallon of gas this year ($2.985 as of December 14), compared with last year at this time.

The official 102-hour Christmas holiday period begins at 6 p.m. Friday, December 21 and runs to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 25.

During last year's 78-hour Christmas holiday period, there were three traffic fatalities reported by the Michigan State Police. Of the three fatal crashes, none involved alcohol. Lack of restraint use was a factor in one of the three fatalities.

Michigan's safety belt law requires that the driver and all front seat passengers be buckled, children under the age of four must be in a child safety seat, preferably in the back seat, and children up to age 16 must be restrained no matter where they're riding.

AAA Michigan urges motorists to allow extra time, buckle safety belts, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol during the upcoming holiday travel period. For tasty nonalcoholic drink recipes, visit AAA.com/Pretenders.