KATY, Texas — A record number of travelers are expected to hit the road this Thanksgiving. AAA said 5.7 million Texans planned to drive more than 50 miles from home during the holiday period.
We stopped at Buc-ee's in Katy where drivers were filling their tanks with gas as cheap as $2.40 a gallon, slightly lower than the state average.
Doug Shoupe with AAA Texas says it's important to ensure your vehicle is good to go.
"You want to make sure your vehicle is ready for that road trip, so check the tire tread and inflation, and the fuel levels are topped off, and have someone help you check the headlights, the taillights, the turn signals, make sure they’re working properly," Shoupe advised.
AAA noted that Thanksgiving morning is usually the best time to avoid traffic jams, but on the Friday after Turkey Day, traffic tends to increase, especially before 1 p.m.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) warns that troopers will be out in force to ensure drivers follow traffic laws. They will be on the lookout for DWIs, speeding, failure to wear seatbelts, and violations of the move over and slow down law.
Last year, troopers issued more than 41,000 warnings and tickets during the Thanksgiving period.