Will Myrtle Beach have police checkpoints this Thanksgiving? Your guide to SC holiday traffic
Thanksgiving is almost here and experts predict a record number of travelers on U.S. roads this holiday.
Whether you’re visiting the Grand Strand for your holiday or getting out of town, drivers around Myrtle Beach have lots to consider when planning a Turkey Day trip.
If you’ll be on Grand Strand roads this week, here’s what you should know about safety, law enforcement, traffic and weather.
Road checkpoints
South Carolina Highway Patrol will have patrol and various traffic checkpoints around Horry County for the Thanksgiving holiday period from Wednesday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Dec. 1. SCHP Lance Cpl. Lena Butler confirmed the presence of checkpoints, but declined to say how many checkpoints or where they’ll be set up.
The Conway Police Department said that it will advertise upcoming safety checkpoints on social media and, at the time of publication, no such announcements have been made.
Horry County Police, Myrtle Beach Police, North Myrtle Beach Police and Surfside Beach Police told The Sun News they haven’t scheduled Thanksgiving checkpoints, though law enforcement will still be patrolling for dangers on the road.
“We do not have checkpoints specifically planned for the holiday itself,” Horry County public information officer Mikayla Moskov told the Sun News in an email. “That said, we are working with the state Law Enforcement Network (LEN) to conduct joint, cross-jurisdictional checkpoints throughout this season, but there are no specific locations or dates set at this time.”
Last month, the Myrtle Beach Police Department received a traffic enforcement grant from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety to address speeding, impaired driving, seat belt neglect and more. Drivers can expect, “increased enforcement around the holidays,” according to a department statement.
Safety reminders
Regardless of checkpoints and patrolling, it’s important to practice responsible driving, situational awareness and safety precautions when driving this Thanksgiving.
“I can let you know that last year there were 1,356 collisions during the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday period, which resulted in 11 deaths in South Carolina alone,” Butler said. “Four of those fatal collisions were due to impaired driving.”
To protect yourself, your passengers and others on the road, state and local law enforcement advise that you:
Have a designated driver or use a ride-share app if you’ve been drinking
Obey speed limits
Wear your seat belt and ensure that children are properly restrained
Limit distractions
Plan your route and let others know your plans
Check your car’s engine, oil and tires
Have an emergency kit in your car
“Be patient, because traffic is really going to be, the roadways are going to be extremely busy,” Butler said. “So we ask, we’re asking the motor public to adhere to the safety measures.”
Traffic predictions
Between Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Dec. 2, AAA estimates that 71.7 million people in the U.S. will travel by car. For comparison, during the same period last year 70.4 million people traveled in cars, and 70.6 million people traveled by car that week in 2022.
“We expect to see record travel numbers across the board,” Travel for AAA President Debbie Haas said in a statement.
If you’re planning to travel this Thanksgiving, the best time to drive is Turkey Day itself, according to transportation data and insight company INRIX Inc.
Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon are projected to be the worst times to travel, as highways and interstates are expected to be more congested than Thanksgiving Day.
Drivers trying to beat return traffic after Thanksgiving should plan to leave early Sunday morning, and those hitting the road Monday should expect a mix of holiday travelers and work commuters, according to INRIX.
Weather forecasts
Although there’s a chance of showers Thursday afternoon and night, current National Weather Service forecasts don’t spell trouble for Myrtle Beach roads this week. There’s a chance of showers Thursday afternoon and night, but predictions don’t call for heavy precipitation or low visibility.
However, low temperatures on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night could drop below 40 degrees. If you’re planning to drive at night, it’s a good idea to stock your car’s emergency kit with supplies to stay warm in case of an emergency.