On the heels of the busiest travel day of the year, digital mapping company NAVTEQ released a traffic study that spotlights New York City roadways as the most congested in the U.S., TechCrunch reports. In fact, the north-bound section of Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and the east-bound lanes of Washington Bridge claimed the top two spots for slowest rush hour. NYC also leads the nation for worst rush hour traffic. Add to that a heaping helping of holiday traffic paired with Thanksgiving Day Parade road closures and traffic in and around NYC between now and Sunday is expected to be all but at a standstill.
With that said, New York City car accident attorney Nicholas Rose would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday with family, friends and loved ones. We would then like to remind drivers and passengers that along with more traffic, so increases the risk of a New York City car accident.
The Journal News reports that in 2009, 92,000 people headed out of NYC on Metro-North trains between noon and 8 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, representing a 25 increase in normal daily passenger population. And the New York State Thruway also saw record-breaking traffic during the Wednesday-to-Sunday Thanksgiving holiday with nearly 3.2 million vehicles traveling more than 113.6 million miles on the Thruway.
The AAA Foundation expects that 42.2 million Americans will drive 50 miles or more this holiday, an increase of nearly 12 percent over last year’s travel numbers. Although Thanksgiving travel is down significantly from a 2005 peak of 58.6 million travelers, AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet says the forecast is hopeful and appears to be the result of an increase in real disposable personal income, a decrease in consumer debt and a stabilized unemployment rate.
“These improvements, along with a strong desire to spend time with friends and family, are expected to propel a significant increase in Thanksgiving travel,” Darbelnet said.
State and local law enforcement officials suggest that drivers give themselves extra time to reach their destination, and regularly check for traffic and road condition updates before hitting the road. They also note that all travelers should try to treat each other with courtesy and patience. Taking regular rest breaks, staying off your cell phone while driving and simple things like wearing your seat belt and avoiding impaired driving are also potentially life-saving tips.
New York City accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC, understand that being involved in a traffic accident is often among the most stressful times in a person’s life. We would like you to know we are available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured in pedestrian traffic accident. To schedule an appointment, call us at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
