According to AAA, when Americans travel, they overwhelmingly use automobiles, light trucks, or recreational vehicles. In 2004, we set a record. Almost 63 million Americans visited with their families over the holidays. Given that we currently have 295 million people living in America, it means that a whopping 21% traveled more than 50 miles to see loved ones.

Of the 63 million that went out, 50.9 million, 81% of them, went by automobiles. 3.2 million went by train, bus or another way (5.3 %) and 8.6 million took the plane (13.7%).

It's hard to image a life without automobiles and paved highways. But there are probably grandparents out there that remember what it was like before the Federal Highway Act of 1921 shifted highway building into high gear, so to speak. The highways as we know them stem up from the work that we did after Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Finally in 1966, the United States created a federal Department of Transportation to help manage all the miles of highway in America.

Reasons why people prefer to take their car instead of another form of transportation:

* It's easier. You can just hop into your car and go. You don't need to coordinate your schedule with that of other forms of transportation.

* It's cheaper. You've already got a car. If you want to go by plane or train, you're going to need to buy tickets. The price of tickets can really add up if you have a big family.

* People often have fears of using other forms of transportation. They're afraid to fly for example. Although this is an irrational fear as flying in planes is statistically safer than driving in cars, it is very hard to overcome.

* People feel more comfortable in their own car. They can say what they want to, dress how they want to, take their shoes off if they want, etc. It's just like being at home, only they're in their car.

* People often don't like being stuck in a room with strangers. They would rather be alone or with a smaller group of friends or family.

* Once you get to your destination, often times you'll need a car anyways. Using taxis or rental cars can really put a hole in your wallet or purse.

* It's not convenient to take a plane; it might be faster to get there, but once you're there, you'll either have to take a taxi or have somebody come out to pick you up from the airport.

* Likewise, if you don't live near an airport, the time to drive to the airport and back may not be worth it for you; you might as well drive to get where you're going

* People like to be in control of their environment. Even if it takes longer for them to drive, they are the ones moving the steering wheel and deciding when and where they will stop the car.

* They might hate airplane food that much!