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CNN Live At Daybreak

Safety Tips for Holiday Traveling

Aired November 09, 2001 - 05:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: People might be changing their holiday plans because they're nervous about traveling right now, but CNN's Julie Vallese looks at ways to keep yourself safe on the road and in the air.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thanksgiving dinner is sure to bring a feast of turkey and all the fixings, but AAA's annual holiday forecast says fewer people will be traveling this season.

SANDRA HUGHES, V.P., AAA TRAVEL SERVICES: There will be 34.6 million Americans traveling this year, that's a 6 percent decrease from last year.

VALLESE: Most of that decrease will come from people choosing not to fly.

DR. JEFF RUNGE, ADMINISTRATOR, NHTSA: Well, if you look at our statistics, it does not make a lot of sense to abandon the airways for the highways.

VALLESE (on camera): According to those statistics, flying is eight times safer than driving. Each day, American roads claim enough lives to fill a 737.

(voice-over): So what should you do if you plan on driving this Thanksgiving?

RUNGE: Choice of route, making sure your vehicle is well equipped, not overloaded, tires are properly inflated, hoses and belts are checked, as far as on the vehicle side. And on the human factor side, making sure that you're not drowsy, that you're sober, that your seatbelt is buckled.

VALLESE: If you are flying, safety, for the most part, is in the hands of the airlines and the airports, but there is something you can do to improve personal safely.

DAVID STEMPLER, PRESIDENT, AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION: You should always be aware. Know where you bags are. Look around and see if there are any unattended bags in the terminal or anything else and report that to the police immediately. Always be aware, always be attentive.

VALLESE: Experts say if travelers plan ahead and take precautions, travel should be as easy as pumpkin pie.

Julie Vallese, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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