Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Travel Expected, with Focus on Highway Safety

Strategic Insights -

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, a record number of travelers are hitting the nation's highways, with a predicted 31.6 million holiday travelers taking to the roads. With a five percent increase in holiday auto travel from last year, Verizon Wireless is urging drivers to prioritize highway safety and responsible driving habits. The company is offering tips for safe driving and using wireless phones while on the road, including using hands-free devices, dialing important numbers in advance, and knowing your phone number for emergency purposes.

Key Takeaways:

  • A record 31.6 million holiday travelers are expected to take to the nation's highways this Thanksgiving, a five percent increase from last year.
  • Verizon Wireless is urging drivers to prioritize highway safety and responsible driving habits.
  • The company is offering tips for safe driving and using wireless phones while on the road, including using hands-free devices and pre-programming important numbers.
  • Wireless phone users make over 118,000 calls every day to 9-1-1 to report highway accidents, suspected drunk drivers, and crimes in progress.
  • Verizon Wireless has a range of high-quality, affordable options for hands-free wireless communication, including headsets, earpieces, and voice-activated systems.
  • The company is committed to encouraging the use of new hands-free technologies to make using wireless communications in the car easier.
  • Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 26.3 million wireless voice and data customers and 3.5 million paging customers.

Statistics:

  • 31.6 million: the number of holiday travelers expected to take to the nation's highways this Thanksgiving.
  • 118,000: the number of calls made to 9-1-1 every day by wireless phone users to report highway accidents, suspected drunk drivers, and crimes in progress.
  • 26.3 million: Verizon Wireless's number of wireless voice and data customers in the U.S.
  • 3.5 million: Verizon Wireless's number of paging customers in the U.S.
  • 90 percent: the percentage of the U.S. population covered by Verizon Wireless's footprint.

Sources:

  • PRNewswire, "Thanksgiving Travelers to Hit Record High; Verizon Wireless Offers Safety Tips" (Nov. 21)
  • Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, no exact source date or time mentioned
  • Verizon Communications website, http://www.verizonwireless.com (no exact date or time mentioned)
  • Verizon Wireless, "Verizon Wireless Facts" (no exact date or time mentioned)