Couldthe new enhanced airport security procedures adopted by the Transportation Security Administration unwittingly lead to an increase in highway accidents and fatalities this Thanksgiving holiday? It’s a question that two transportation economists have already addressed. According to them, there is very likely to be a spike in highway travel this year.
The main reason is likely to be the embarrassing patdown procedures, which have already received plenty of negative press as being intrusive and humiliating.In fact, an activist group is calling for “National Opt-Out Day” in protest against the procedures on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is one of the busiest flight days.That could mean even more delays.
Airport security has become a painfully cumbersome procedure post 9/11, and many people, especially those with kids, only fly because it gives them a chance to reach their destination quicker. However, if flying now also comes with a long drawn-out and embarrassing patdown, with the prospect of more delays, many Americans would simply choose to drive to their destination instead.