PHOENIX — Nearly 500 car accidents in a single day last year cast a pall over a holiday that should be about family and food.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were 492 accidents on the Friday before Thanksgiving in 2020, the third-most accident-prone day of the year.
Why? It starts with the busy road.
“The more people on the road, the more accidents,” said AAA spokesman Julian Paredes. “This will be the third busiest Thanksgiving since AAA started tracking the data.”
AAA estimates that nearly one million Arizonans will hit the roads this holiday season for Thanksgiving trips. Drivers who combine unusual routes and routines can create a dangerous mixture.
“It comes down to impaired driving, distracted driving, or even road rage,” Paredes said.
So Paredes said to make a plan. Give yourself enough time and patience, and remember, we all want to be home for the holidays.
“Doing a little work now can save a lot of stress, headaches, and even meltdowns,” Paredes said. “And knowing that everyone wants to go home just like you.”
Last year, Dec. 15 and Christmas Eve were the only two days that had fewer crashes than Thanksgiving.
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