Holiday travel expected to be higher this year

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Christmas is less than a week away, and many who are preparing to get on the roads will see higher travel volumes.

AAA predicted that travel will be higher by 2% in the state of Ohio and 1.5% across the nation. This will mark the eighth consecutive year of year-end holiday travel growth.

The Zanesville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is prepared for the spike in travelers coming through town and has tips for with those who will be traveling.

Sgt. Kevin Kelley with the Zanesville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said he wants to bring attention to something they see a lot of around this time of year; overloading vehicles.

“You’re supposed to be able to see out of your windows, you need to be aware of where the people are around you,” said Sgt. Kelley.

Sgt. Kelley said they expect to see an increase in traffic on I-70 and advises drivers to plan accordingly.

“There’s going to be a lot of people on the road, so I would suggest that you plan your trip accordingly, leave in plenty of time. And slow down a little bit, make that distance between you and the car in front of you a little further and anticipate what the other people are going to do,” said Sgt. Kelley.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol would also like to remind drivers to not drink and drive.

“If keeping everyone safe ruins your plans, sorry about that you can plan ahead, don’t drink and drive,” said Sgt. Kelley.

It’s recommended to keep emergency materials in your car such as blankets, a first aid kit and even a portable charger to power your phone if your car won’t turn on so you can call for help.

Sgt. Kelley said in the case that you are idling on the side of the road, you should check your tail pipe for snow or debris to avoid carbon monoxide entering your car.

If you do run into problems, Sgt. Kelley says dialing #677 anywhere in the state will connect you to Ohio State Highway Patrol barracks closest to your location.