MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - With the holiday season upon us, it's important for residents to expect more traffic on the roads and protect their homes while they are away.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), more than 1.7 million Michiganders are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, and more than 55 million travelers, nationwide, are planning to kick off the holidays with a trip lasting 50 miles or more away from their homes.

“Millions of thankful Americans are starting the holiday season off right with a Thanksgiving getaway,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for the AAA - The Auto Club Group. “Strong economic fundamentals are motivating Americans to venture out this holiday in near-record numbers. Consumer spending remains strong, thanks to increasing wages, disposable income and household wealth, and travel remains one of their top priorities for the holiday season.”

HOMTV's Brandie Yates also sat down with Meridian Township Police Lieutenant Rick Grillo to discuss important tips for how residents can stay safe in winter weather.

"When you set your alarm in the morning, that you give yourself extra time, because you never know we may get snow overnight, we may get ice overnight, and you may not have enough time to get to where you are going on time."

"Leave yourself extra time in the morning, especially, understand that your stopping distance is going to increase significantly when there is snow and when there is ice on the roads, so be very careful when you are driving."

Lieutenant Grillo also shared how residents can protect their homes when they are away during the holidays such as knowing and trusting your neighbors and asking them to watch your home, unplugging your garage door opener, locking your doors and closing all your windows and using timers on your lights.

Residents can contact the Meridian Township Police Department to do vacation property checks on their homes.

While it's very popular and common for residents to post pictures of their trips on social media platforms, The Meridian Township Police Department recommends residents to post any and all pictures when they come home after their trips.

"If you are putting it out there for everybody that hey I am not going to be home, you might as well put a sign up front, right, that says you know, check out my house cause it's going to be vacant for a few days" said Lieutenant Grillo. "Don't do that, just wait till you get home to start posting your pics and then telling everybody where you went for your vacation."