Thanksgiving by the Numbers

Curious how your fellow Americans spend their Thanksgiving? We compiled facts and figures from TripAdvisor, Orbitz and the U.S. Department of Transportation to give this Turkey Day snapshot:

Who travels?

43,400,000 Americans travel for Thanksgiving

Why do they travel?

40% travel to have dinner with family 4% travel to have dinner with friends

How far do they go?

50 miles or more on average

Where do they go?

The 5 most popular cities to travel to for the holiday are:

• New York City
• Orlando
• Chicago
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco

How do they get there?

38,900,000 travel by car 3,140,000 travel by plane

1,400,000 travel by bus, train or ship

When do they leave?

27% of drivers leave on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving – the busiest travel day

64% plan to travel during off-peak hours to avoid heavy traffic

Where do they stay?

44% of travelers stay at the home of family or friends

42% stay at a hotel or vacation rental

How do they book their tickets and accommodations?

57% of travelers use a mobile device in the booking process

How much do they spend on traveling?

$384 is the average domestic airfare

$162 is the average hotel rate

What about the food?

235,000,000 turkeys are raised in the U.S. each year

46,000,000 turkeys served for Thanksgiving dinner

736,000,000 pounds of turkey served for Thanksgiving dinner

16% of people eat at a restaurant on Thanksgiving

How much is spent on the feast?

$49.04 is the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people

$21.76 is the average cost of a 16 lb. turkey

$75 or more is the average for a ready-to-eat meal from a grocery store

#SelfiesWhileDriving: A Dangerous Phenomenon

Everywhere you look, people are taking “selfies” – from sporting events to graduation ceremonies. But the reckless act of taking a self-portrait while driving can endanger you, your passengers and others on the road.

 

The selfie fad is so new that statistics linking it to traffic accidents don’t yet exist. However, the U.S. Department of Transportation cites more than 3,300 deaths every year caused by distracted driving. Taking a selfie is a distraction from driving – reaching for your phone, opening the camera app and taking a photo. Distracted drivers are three times more likely to get into a crash, yet 80% of drivers admit to using their phone while driving.

The rise in driving hashtags

Hashtags that refer to driving tell part of the story. The following driving-related hashtags are among the most common on Twitter and Instagram – accounting for thousands of posts this year alone:

 

#Driving: 40 million+ posts

#Drivinghome: 80 thousand+ posts

#Drivingtowork: 16 thousand+ posts

#Drivingselfie: 21 thousand+ posts

#Drivingselfies: 5 thousand+ posts

Selfies while stopped are still unsafe

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Russ Rader noted that taking a selfie even while stopped at a traffic light is dangerous. “It is still distracting,” he said, “and driving requires your full attention.”

 

A common accident involving vehicles stopped at a red light or traffic sign is a rear-end collision. While you can’t control the actions of the driver behind you, taking a selfie can distract you from moving quickly enough to avoid being hit. It also can delay your response once the traffic light turns green – causing you to hit the vehicle in front of you.

 

Plus, in states that have deemed it illegal to use a cell phone while operating a vehicle, you could be ticketed.

Ad focuses on the potential selfie aftermath

Toyota’s “Don’t Shoot and Drive” campaign uses Instagram to call out the dangers of taking selfies while driving. For impact, it uses images of a totaled car edited in various Instagram filters.

 

When you’re behind the wheel and you’re holding a phone, you’re a distracted driver. And no conversation, text or selfie is worth the risk.

Tis the Season...for Theft Prevention

5 Tips to Keeps Your Belongings Safe from Holiday Theft

 

 

 

The holidays are a cheerful time, but while you’re celebrating, someone may be eyeing those new gifts. Beware of the burglars waiting to get their hands on your presents.

 

According to Nationwide claims data over the past three years, there were nearly 15,000 home thefts during the holidays and travel months of November, December and January.

Here are 5 tips to help avoid being a victim of theft over the holidays:

1. Save the status updates for later

Four out of five burglars used social networks last year to find out when people were not home.

 

Telling friends and family your holiday plans on social media may seem harmless, but that social media message can be an advertisement to burglars that says, “I’m not home.” Don’t let your social media behavior while you’re gone put your home at risk for a burglary.

2. Add home security devices to your gift list

Adding these items to your wish list can offer some extra protection:

• Sensor-triggered lighting
• Motion-activated webcams
• Smart phone home security

Also look into technology that lets you connect with your phone for 24/7 surveillance when you’re on the go.

3. Close the curtains before turning in

Open blinds may invite unwanted eyes, allowing thieves to check out the layout of your home, or view your belongings.

4. Don’t leave ladders up after decorating

Ladders can help a burglar gain access to your home. Once you’ve hung the outdoor lights, store the ladders and tools in a locked shed or garage.

5. Create categorized inventory lists

Put your gift list-making skills to good use and keep an ongoing record of items in your home. Free apps like Know Your Stuff can help you take inventory with pre-programmed categories and locations.

 

An inventory list will come in handy if you have Brand New Belongings insurance* coverage, which can help replace your insured belongings if they’re stolen or destroyed – regardless of age or condition.

*Optional feature. Exclusions and limits apply. Damaged items may be repaired in some cases. Details vary by state and policy language. Please consult your policy for the specifics of your selected coverages. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval.

ELECTION DAY!

Dont forget to vote today for our State and Local Representatives!!

 

 

So get out there and place your ballot because...

 

To get registered or check your registration status, find out when and where to vote on Election Day (or how to vote early!), figure out who's on your ballot, and more - go to: Rock The Vote for all your Election Day needs!