NEW JERSEY — A study conducted by New Jersey auto insurance group Plymouth Rock Assurance shows 87% of New Jersey residents traveling on Thanksgiving Day will do so between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. However, only 9% plan to travel between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
“Thanksgiving is one weekday that drivers should consider being on the roads during typical morning rush hours,” said Gerry Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plymouth Rock Management Company of New Jersey. “Making small adjustments to travel plans can mean avoiding the heaviest traffic. It’s safer and less stressful to be on the roads with fewer cars.”
Findings from the study include:
• 70% of all New Jersey residents polled plan to travel on Thanksgiving Day. Only 15% plan to travel the day before Thanksgiving, with the rest traveling on another day.
• 50% of all respondents will travel less than 30 miles, while 31% will travel from 30 miles to less than 100 miles, with the rest traveling farther.
• Of New Jersey residents traveling on Thanksgiving Day, 9% will travel between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., 45% between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., 42% between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with the rest traveling later.
While driving is the most popular form of Thanksgiving travel, the study shows that many drivers are not equipped to handle common car trouble. Nearly half of drivers polled have never changed a flat tire and don’t carry jumper cables.
“Proactive preparation can make it easier to handle common car trouble on your own,” Wilson added. “Taking a few minutes to inspect and prepare your car for travel may save you from being stranded on the side of the road.”
Plymouth Rock wants to help all New Jersey drivers arrive for their Thanksgiving dinner safely and on time. Drivers can visit the Plymouth Rock Blog for instructions on changing a flat tire, jumping a dead battery and driving in a variety of seasonal weather.
