More people expected to travel for holidays

An estimated 93.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holidays of 2012, an increase of 1.6 percent over last year, according to AAA.The number of Illinois travelers also is expected to rise by 1.3 percent, to an estimated 4.7 million - with a majority traveling by automobile and about 270,000 expected to fly.

"The year-end holiday season remains the least volatile of all travel holidays as Americans will not let economic conditions or high gas prices dictate if they go home for the holidays or kick off the New Year with a vacation," said Beth Mosher, director of public affairs for AAA Chicago. "Primary economic indicators all show modest improvement from last year and AAA is projecting an increase in the number of Americans stuffing their stockings with airline tickets and hotel reservations."

Throughout Illinois and beyond, state, county and city police will be conducting additional roadside safety checks and late-night patrols concentrating on impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding and distracted driving.The Illinois Department of Transportation also will be suspending work in road construction zones to clear as many lanes as possible for travel.