Drivers Told to “Move Over” for Thanksgiving

It’s the busiest travel time of the year and already drivers have packed area roadways to head over the hills and through the woods.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says more than 1 million people in the Washington area will travel more than 50 miles away from home this Thanksgiving holiday – about a 1.3 percent increase in the number of travelers over the same time last year.

One of the ways they’ll be getting where they’re going – the 495 Express Lanes on the Capital Beltway which opened last weekend, states AAA Mid-Atlantic in a press release:

Chances are, the brand spanking new Express Lanes will be jammed with Thanksgiving travelers. On top of that, the competition will be fierce for every inch of lane miles on every highway, thoroughfare, toll road, alternate-route, street, side-road, back-road, and exit ramp in the region. They will be filled to the hilt with nine-out-of- ten holiday travelers (an estimated 977, 600 persons) originating in the metro area, projects AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The automobile agency adds travelers will also take to planes and trains this weekend.

But for those driving on Virginia’s highways, state police said there will be more troopers on the road, and they urge motorists to slow down and to move over when they see emergency services vehicles on the side of the road.

Here’s more in a statement from Virginia State Police:

Virginia State Police will have 75 percent of its uniformed workforce on patrol during peak travel periods during the Thanksgiving holiday. With the increase in emergency personnel presence, motorists are reminded to comply with Virginia’s “Move Over” law, which requires drivers to change to another travel lane or, when not able to, to cautiously pass emergency personnel stopped on the side of the road. In 2010, the law was amended to include highway maintenance vehicles and tow trucks equipped with flashing amber lights.

To heighten motorists’ awareness of the state law, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently installed additional signs statewide. Currently, there are 33 signs positioned along every major interstate in Virginia. Most of the signs were in place by the end of September.

Last year in Virginia, a total of 11 people were killed in traffic crashes during the Thanksgiving weekend. That was up one from the year before.

To help drivers get out of traffic this holiday weekend, the Virginia Department of Transportation suspended all roadwork today at noon through noon Monday.

Check real-time traffic conditions by visiting Virginia’s 511 service.