Millions hit the road this Thanksgiving holiday.And while the trip to grandma's house was memorable, now comes to usual headache that follows.
Hitting the road was a must for people like Tarry Kirkland, his wife and daughter. “It went great. We left last Wednesday morning early. We beat the traffic--left about 6:30 in the morning and drove down to Bristol, Tennessee to see family and spend the holiday down there went great was uneventful,” he said.
But then it was time to return and Kirkland hit heavy traffic like many others. And, in some cases, traffic came to a complete halt. As the interstate twisted through moutainous terrain, each turn gave a glimpse into the nightmare traffic that awaited. Around mile marker in 143, in Roanoke County, an accident caused a 25-mile backup. That's why Kirkland used the time to entertain his daughter and keep his wife company. “Well my daughter has a DVD player, which is the greatest invention of all time for travel with small kids. And my wife and I just listen to the radio and talk,” he said.
Others made sure they stretched their legs at rest stops. And for those who still have a long trip before making it home? Perhaps you should take Tarry Kirkland's advice. “Just relax. There is nothing you can do about it. As a former police officer, I know if there is a traffic accident take your time, pay attention and just be as patient as possible,” said Kirkland.
Those are perhaps words to live by-- and words that may save lives. If you lost your patience while travelling, you're probably not alone. According to Triple-A close to 44 million Americans were expected to travel 50 miles or more over the Thanksgiving holiday. More people were expected to drive compared to last year while fewer chose to fly.
