The Thanksgiving travel period is routinely the busiest time of year on Georgia roadways, and state officials say 11 people died in traffic crashes during this year’s holiday reporting window.
Georgia State Patrol Troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers will be out in force this week as the Thanksgiving travel period begins. The 102-hour travel window starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, and runs through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 30. Officials say the goal is to reduce crashes and keep the record number of holiday travelers safe on Georgia’s roads.
As Thanksgiving travel ramps up, drivers across Georgia are seeing a slight increase in gas prices heading into the holiday week. According to AAA, the statewide average now stands at $2.87 per gallon, driven by a modest rise in crude oil prices and growing travel demand. Prices are six cents higher than last week, nine cents higher than last month, but still six cents lower than this time last year. Filling up a standard 15-gallon tank now costs about $43.95.
As Thanksgiving travel increases across Georgia, law enforcement agencies statewide — including the Summerville Police Department, Trion Police Department, and the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office — are stepping up patrols to keep roads safe during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has released its official Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast and announced plans to suspend interstate and major state route lane closures to help ease congestion for millions of travelers hitting the road next week.