SOUTHLAND – (INT) – Southern Californians on-the-go will have plenty of company before the Thanksgiving Holiday winds down late Sunday.

The Automobile Club predicts 3-point-7 million will hit the road, an all-time record.

Clear, dry weather will be in their favor.

Gasoline prices have eased by 25-cents-a-gallon the past week in the Riverside area. But, motorists are still paying about 50 cents more than last Thanksgiving.

The Auto Club puts the current Riverside average at $5.09 and statewide at $5.16.

It’s a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the California Highway Patrol. Many local police agencies have cancelled holiday time-off as patrol officers concentrate on seeking out DUI motorists and other traffic violators.

During the 4-day 2021 Thanksgiving period, five people died in Inland Empire traffic mishaps, seven in 2020 and 12 during the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday.

Caltrans added that there will be no construction activity on area freeways and state highways through Sunday.

Story Date: November 27, 2022