Holiday travelers who couldn't get out of town early likely will face traffic jams and delays as they join the throngs of people trying to get somewhere Wednesday. Meanwhile, an average of 258,000 passengers were expected to pass through Hartsfield International Airport each day during the Thanksgiving weekend, the airport's busiest period of the year. Rush hour in the Atlanta area, which is expected to last most of Wednesday afternoon, will mark the beginning of the most dangerous driving period of the year.
Experts advise travelers to pack plenty of patience.
Another 1,071 were injured in 3,903 wrecks, according to the State Patrol. State officials estimate the death toll to rise to 19 this year. We hope we're certainly wrong on that. One accident can really mess things up for hours. Experts also are advising air travelers to check baggage rather than carry on luggage.