Hitting the road for Christmas? It’s best to avoid Friday

QO’ Mighty Overseer of the Highways: How does it look for driving on Interstate 5 to Los Angeles this weekend? By the same token, what are the bad days to drive back after the 25th? — Ward Loveland, Redwood City

AThe worst day to travel to Los Angeles or anywhere during the holiday season is Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to Waze and Inrix, but any day before Christmas can be a grind driving. Heavy traffic on Wednesday and Thursday will occur as commuters mix with holiday travelers.

A record-setting 107.3 million people will be traveling and 97.4 million will be driving, a 3 percent increase from last year. Travel times in the nation’s most congested cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles could be up to three times longer than normal. If going to Lake Tahoe, it could be even longer.

However, trips after Christmas aren’t as difficult, as many travelers take the week off and return drives home are more spread out.

Traveling Christmas Day has the least amount of traffic on any day between Friday and Jan. 4. New Year’s Day is also very light.

Oh, one more warning. Expect traffic hassles if you’re going to a movie on Christmas Day. There’s more than a 130 percent increase in the use of devices like Waze to find directions.

QGary, here are the three things I want for Christmas:

• Drivers to use their turn signals all the time.

• Slower drivers to move out of the lane just right of the express lane because it is now the “passing” lane.

• Express lane hours to be changed to 5-10 a.m. and 3-8 p.m. — Tom Hart, San Ramon

ABe a thinker. Use your blinkers. All the time.

QMy vote for the best holiday commercial is by Subaru for their Share-The-Love commercial that promotes the worthy causes of MakeA-Wish, State Parks, Meals on Wheels, ASPCA, and other causes. They reached beyond their own promotional purposes and captured the true purpose of the season. — Kim Rook, Santa Clara

AI agree. Terrific spots.

QIt’s worth re-posting as we get closer to the holiday season. Carpool lanes on freeway ramps don’t usually have a time or day listed. A lot of people don’t realize that this means the lane is 24/7 active.

The other issue is regular carpool lanes. They are active even on holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day if the holiday falls during the week, which they do this year. It would be sad to get a ticket on the way to Grandma’s house. — Barbra Watkins, San Jose

AVery sad, but it has happened.