Officials preach patience and preparation during busy Thanksgiving travel

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Thanksgiving Eve is the busiest travel day of the year. Whether you're hitting the road or flying out, transportation officials say small steps can help with smooth travel.  

"Pack a lot of patience. Give yourself extra time and space," said Paul Wappel, IDOT public information officer.  

Central Illinois is expecting some winter weather this weekend, which could impact both road and air travel. IDOT says check your vehicle before road trips. The Fatal Four describes common mistakes drivers make that could lead to fatalities. Driving while intoxicated is one of them.  

"Going too fast can certainly make the difference between life and death. Using a cell phone — it's against the law in Illinois — has to be a hands-free device," Wappel said.  

Even air travel can come with some chaos. Coles County Memorial Airport encourages people to get to airports at least two hours early. 

"If there's any weather that could be slowing things down, the airplanes or the travel, it's always good to look at the weather and look at the weather where you're going," said airport manager Andrew Fearin.