(Archive photo)
Holiday travel up for third straight year
U.S. travel during the Christmas and New Year's holiday weekends is expected to increase 1.4 percent from 2010 to the highest level in five years, AAA says. About 91.9 million people will journey 50 miles or more from home during the holiday period, which runs from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2, according to the forecast. That's up from 90.7 million a year earlier and the third consecutive increase. Automobile drivers and passengers will account for 83.6 million of the year-end holiday travelers, up 2.1 percent from last year. The number of air travelers will fall 9.7 percent to 5.4 million. The average distance traveled will be 726 miles, down from an estimated 1,052 in 2010.
— The Associated Press
(Toyota)
Record number of autos make safety list
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named a record 115 vehicles as "top safety picks" last week, including the new versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The institute tests the vehicles to see how well they hold up in front, side, rear and roll-over crashes. The Accord returned to the list after a two-year absence. The 2012 Camry (shown) received its first-ever top safety pick award, after falling short last year because of a "marginal" rating for seat and heat restraints. A total of 15 Toyota vehicles received the top award this year, the most of any automaker.
— The Associated Press
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