Thanksgiving Travelers to Enjoy Plentiful Bounty of Cheap Gas

Turkeys say "gobble-gobble," but a big dip in gas prices during the past week will have millions of Thanksgiving travelers saying "cheap-cheap." As of Tuesday, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas, according to travel-services provider AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report, stood at $2.06. That's nearly 9 cents down from the average a week earlier, 15 cents less than last month and 75 cents less than year-ago prices.

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Those numbers should delight holiday travelers, of whom AAA estimates 42 million will drive to their Thanksgiving destination, traveling at least 50 miles from home. That's a 0.7 percent increase over the previous year, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth, AAA said.

"Drivers nationwide continue to experience significant yearly savings in the price of gas and AAA estimates that consumers are saving nearly $265 million on gasoline every day compared to a year ago," AAA said in a statement. "This has helped boost disposable income, enabling many Americans to travel this Thanksgiving."

With more road-trippers, however, also comes heightened potential for problems. AAA predicts that it will provide roadside assistance to 360,000 motorists during the holiday travel period, which runs today through Sunday. The most common problems it encounters are dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.

To help travelers avoid such interruptions, AAA recommends that they:

• Ensure their vehicles are properly maintained, and have their car and tires inspected before a long drive.
• Map their route in advance and be prepared for heavy traffic; if possible leave earlier or later.
• Keep valuables in the trunk or in a covered storage area.
• Have roadside-assistance contact info ready.
• Keep a cellphone and a charger handy at all times in case of an emergency.

Child-seat advocacy organization Safe Kids Worldwide and GM also recommend the following safety precautions:

• Buckle your seat belt every time you're in the car, and ensure that your passengers do too.
• Be especially alert for distracted pedestrians and drivers in parking lots during the hectic holiday shopping season.
• Remind teens to be extra careful in more challenging winter driving conditions.
• Never use hand-held electronic devices while driving.
• Designate a driver if you are headed to a party and plan to consume alcohol.
• Keep large packages, or anything else that could become a projectile during a sudden stop, in the trunk.

"As we travel in larger groups of family and friends, make sure every passenger has a seat belt or a properly fitted car seat," said Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, in a statement. "It's easy to forget simple steps in our holiday planning, but it only takes a few minutes to make sure everyone is safe."