Thanksgiving Drivers are in High Gear with Low Gas Prices

Gas prices are down and drivers are in high gear for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

This afternoon however, Highway 101 was gridlock with cars and white knuckled drivers trying to get out of town.

The lanes did not clear until after 6:30 p.m. in Santa Barbara.

Some drivers filling up their tanks said they will be especially careful because of distracted drivers.

“When I am in a blind spot and people don’t check their blind spots and they merge over that freaks me out. That’s what I get annoyed about,” said Santa Barbara City College student Devin Green. He is traveling to Orcutt this weekend.

A driver with thousands of miles logged in the area said he was especially happy to be home. “I have been going up and down that freeway commuting to Los Angeles since 19 68,” said Lakers Assistant Bill Bertka who lives in Santa Barbara. He was filling up his truck and enjoying the new low fuel prices.

Having a properly maintained car with clean windows, safe tires and working lights can be a life saver.

Traffic will be lighter Thanksgiving morning and heavy again during the weekend shopping rush.

Monday rain is in the forecast, and that may be a problem for some drivers who have not driven in rain in some time.