FRAMINGHAM — Massachusetts drivers believed what travel experts predicted: The Tuesday afternoon before Thanksgiving would be one of the worst times to travel by car.
“There are a lot of people on the road tonight,” said Ariana Ortmann, who was with the Mass. Pike drove to New York.
Wednesday afternoon is also expected to be slow.
“It was painful, I sat there for an hour turning on music to calm myself down,” said driver JoMarc Dasalla.
Ann Duffy picked up her daughter from Boston University and they were headed to the Empire State, but traffic was backed up.
“It took me four hours to get here, usually it’s three and it’ll probably take me seven hours to get home,” Duffy said.
Nearly 72 million drivers will hit the road this Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA.
Make sure the car is roadworthy
Before you head out on a trip, the tire experts at Sullivan Tire say you should make sure your car is roadworthy.
“Wipers, oil changes, check all your fluids,” says Casey McMullen, Sullivan Tire GM. “We haven’t really had any bad weather, we haven’t had any rain, we haven’t had any snow, so it makes sure that there is traction and that the pressure is good.”
Warning from New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, after a series of accidents along I-95, the governor says he will get a ticket if state police need to pull you over for any reason.
And some of the reasons why drivers want to get home to their loved ones include:
“I am most grateful for the people in my life, they have helped me through everything,” Ortmann said.
“Family, glad I’m home and I don’t have to do any schoolwork,” Kaylin Duffy said.
The Sunday afternoon after Thanksgiving is also expected to be busy, so experts say you should be prepared.
