As Christmas Eve draws near, a mass exodus of travelers starts

Indianapolis, Indiana – According to the Transportation Security Administration, the biggest travel days of the 2023 holiday season are December 21, December 22, and New Year’s Day.

Travelers heading to and from central Indiana saw very few delays at the Indianapolis International Airport on Friday.

“It’s been pretty smooth,” said William Deckler, who flew into Indianapolis from New York. “We actually checked in a bag, everything went super well, Delta is on their A game.”

The TSA estimates that on Friday, it examined 2.5 million passengers, compared to 2.9 million on November 24, the day of Thanksgiving.

“Lines weren’t too bad at LA, but you know it’s LAX, it’s going to be pretty bad,” said Sean Somer, who arrived in Indianapolis from Los Angeles, California.

Between Christmas and New Year, 115 million people—a 2% increase from the previous year—are expected to drive more than 50 miles from their homes, according to the American Automobile Association.

“Share the roadway, drive as if everybody out there sharing the roadway with you is someone you know and love,” said Indiana State Police Captain Ron Galaviz.

This weekend, Indiana State Police (ISP) will have more officers on the road with an emphasis on intoxicated and inattentive drivers.

“In this day and age there is really no excuse for anyone to get behind the wheel after they have been consuming alcohol, with all the rideshare, cabs the different means to get from here to there safely again there’s no excuse,” said Galaviz.

According to ISP, if you witness someone breaking the law or driving recklessly, don’t stop them—call 911 instead.