AAA Chicago estimates that 53 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during this Christmas season.  That is a fractional increase from the association's estimate in 2006.

Each year 7,000 highway deaths are associated with roughly 1.2 million weather related accidents.

"Slowing down or moving over near accident scenes, or where roadside assistance vehicles are stopped along the shoulder, can help keep emergency responders and motorists safe during the holiday travel season," says an AAA official.  AAA notes that most states do require motorists to change lanes away from roadside emergency vehicles or to slow down well below the posted speed limit while passing if they are unable to safely change lanes.

The NHTSA says that more than 5,000 teenagers die each year in traffic accidents.