Survey: Traffic Worse Than Alligators

(Press Release) MIAMI (June 26, 2024) - According to a recent survey,* 80% of South and Central Florida parents are planning a family “staycation,” “nearcation”, or day trip this summer. And, while 64% of parents say they’ll take a family road trip of at least 5 hours in length this summer, they do have some concerns. The majority of parents (64%) called gas prices today “insanity,” “annoying,” or “destructive,” and 68% of parents agree that “traffic in Florida is such a nightmare it makes [them] less likely to want to travel in the summer.” In fact, a majority of parents (59%) would rather find an alligator in their pool than get stuck in traffic during a family road trip. Florida summer traffic jams are so painful that the typical parent would pay $530 to make the cars in front of them disappear when stuck on the road during a long trip.

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The survey also revealed a consensus among Floridians that traveling by train could avoid some of the top obstacles parents face when on family road trips, including arguments in the car, needing to stop for bathroom breaks, getting lost, and of course getting stuck in traffic. 71% agree that holiday weekend traffic jams could be avoided by simply taking the train.
 
This new survey is being published as AAA is forecasting** record-breaking numbers of people across the country planning to travel for the July 4th holiday. In Florida specifically, South Florida beaches are in high demand and both Orlando (#2) and Miami (#5) are among the top 10 domestic destinations for travelers according to AAA booking data.  
 
In addition to AAA’s report, INRIX*** just released its annual 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard that cited that the busiest corridor in the U.S. was the I-4 Westbound near Orlando between the Beachline Expressway and the Western Beltway. Miami was also among the six corridors along I-95 that made up the “Top 25 Busiest Corridors in the U.S.” Brightline, which runs along both of these busy corridors, connects intercity travelers between Miami and Orlando, providing a convenient alternative to both congested highways.
 
To help alleviate these road trip dilemmas, Brightline will be making family trips easier for parents this summer with a special offer to save 40% on adult SMART fares using promo code GATOR****. Additionally, all summer long Adults Ride at Kid Prices on select trains – which means an extra 50% off. Brightline is a family ticket to getting to it all. Beach days. Big games. Theme parks. Concerts. And, kids love trains compared to cars, according to Florida parents, as 52% consider the train more fun for kids, and 52% say the train ride is more memorable for the family. A majority of Florida parents also consider the train more comfortable, safer, faster, more scenic, and more reliable.
 
“Brightline offers value for traveling families, without the stress of navigating through heavy traffic,” said Brightline Senior Vice President of Marketing Barbara Drahl. “So leave the car (and the alligators) at home this summer and try Brightline instead.”