Traffic in the country’s major expressways is expected to build up beginning Saturday as thousands of motorists and travelers start trekking to the provinces for their Christmas vacation.

The Tollways Management Corporation, operator of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEx), said more motorists troop to the provinces during Christmas compared with the Halloween and Holy Week breaks.

Lia Mañalac, TMC media relations specialist, said they expect a significant increase in traffic from December 19 to 23, again from December 26 to 30, 2009; and January 2 to 3, 2010.

TMC expects an increase of at least 10,000 motorists taking the NLEx from a daily average of 150,000 motorists while in the SFEx and SCTEX-Subic side, an increase from the average traffic flow of 2,500 to 3,000 vehicles per hour to at least 5,000 per hour is expected.

Influx of motorists going to Subic was expected as early as yesterday afternoon.

“Motorists who will travel to the northern provinces to plan their trips early to avoid traffic in major expressways this holiday season,” Mañalac said.

The TMC said spare and counterflow lanes at the Dau barrier will be set up in anticipation of the heavy volume of vehicles northbound of the NLEx. Spare lanes in the Bocaue barrier will likewise be set up.

“For the New Year celebration, in case of (increased) vehicle volume going to Bocaue to buy firecrackers, patrol crews and roadway engineering and maintenance personnel will set up cones at the exit ramps on December 29, 30, and 31,” the TMC said.

The same scenario is expected at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) for motorists going to the southern provinces.

Meantime, motorists going back to Manila are expected to peak from January 2 to 3, 2010.

For bus passengers, Homer Mercado, President of the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines, said they expect the exodus to the provinces to peak on the 24th so passengers could be home by Christmas.

He said more city-dwellers are expected to go to the provinces because Christmas Eve, which falls on a Thursday, has been declared a special non-working holiday paving the way for a long vacation.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) warned against drunk driving during this merry-making season.

“Don’t flirt with danger; don’t drink and drive this Christmas,” said Daisy Jacobo, chief of LTO’s Traffic Safety Division who has observed that drivers tend to “lower their guard during holidays because they are more focused on enjoyment.”

“Don’t drink if you are driving is axiomatic. Simply designate a driver who shall not drink to drive for the group,” Jacobo said in an interview.

She also issued the warning to those who suffer depression during the holidays.

“If your depression is made more acute by the holidays, don’t drink yourself to stupor and then go out driving. Stay with friends or the family,” she advised.