Following a record-setting Thanksgiving travel season, Southern California residents are now looking to escape the area for the Christmas and New Year's holiday season, with 9.5 million locals expected to hit the roads and airways, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
The Auto Club prediction of Southern California travelers is a 3% increase from last year's travel number during the same period, and 2% above the level from 2019, the last pre-pandemic year-end holiday season, according to KNX News.
For safe travel, the Auto Club has these recommendations:
- Choose a driver. Take a communal approach to driving safely. If there’s a chance you or your friends will be drinking alcohol, establish a designated driver at the beginning of the night.
- Go with public transport. If you live in an area with bus or train service, public transport can be another way to get home safely. Be sure to check schedules and pick-up locations ahead of time, so you’re prepared. OCTA is offering free bus rides on New Year’s Eve, and OC Bus is always a safe travel choice. Plan your trip here.
- Select ride share. OC Flex, an on-demand shared van, is a convenient, safe and economical way to enjoy holiday and year-round travel in parts of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo.