FLORIDIANS ARE MORE AFRAID OF TRAFFIC THAN ALLIGATORS, SURVEY REVEALS AS RECORD NUMBERS ARE PLANNING TRAVEL THIS SUMMER

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.

 

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 some of these busy corridors, connects intercity travelers between Miami and Orlando, providing a convenient alternative to both congested highways./p>

 

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.”

 

–GOBRIGHTLINE–

 

*Brightline engaged DKC Analytics, a division of DKC Public Affairs and Government Relations, to conduct and compile this survey. This sample of 500 Florida parents was surveyed between June 7, 2024 and June 13, 2024. All respondents are parents of at least one child under 18, have summer travel plans, and live in 1 of 5 target Florida DMAs, confirmed by both consumer- matched data and respondent self-confirmation. DKC Analytics conducted and analyzed this survey with a sample procured using the Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the desktop web. No post-stratification has been applied to the results. The margin of error is ± 4.4% and no additional weighting was done to the initial sample.

 

**AAA Newsroom

 

***INRIX 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard

 

****Terms & Conditions: Book by July 4 for SMART travel by September 30, 2024. Must include Orlando as origin or destination. Only available on select trains. Subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply. Not applicable for rides on Friday and Sunday. Code valid for one-time use and available for all tickets sold in a single transaction, with minimum of two adult passengers. Non-transferable. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Subject to change or cancellation. Management reserves all rights. Additional information can be found in our Terms of Service.

 

ABOUT BRIGHTLINE

Brightline seamlessly connects travelers to top destinations and major events between Central and South Florida. The company serves Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando with future stops in Stuart and Cocoa. Brightline is recognized as one of TIME100’s Most Influential Companies of 2024. It is also recognized by Inc. 5000 Regionals as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast for 2023 and is one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative by Fast Company in 2024. Brightline offers a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road. The company plans to bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

 

Media Contact

Vanessa Alfonso
vanessa.alfonso@gobrightline.com