Traffic jam hotspots bank holiday getaway warning

author: FutureCar Staff    

Drivers in the UK are being warned about congestion hotspots on key routes during the upcoming bank holiday getaway. According to data from the RAC, more than 14 million drivers are expected to take leisure trips this bank holiday weekend, which is nearly two million more than last year. The busiest day for travel is predicted to be Saturday, with as many as 3.1 million separate trips planned. Friday is expected to be the next busiest day with 2.8 million trips, followed by Sunday with 2.3 million, and bank holiday Monday with 1.9 million.

In addition to these estimates, there are another 4.2 million trips that will be made by drivers who have not yet decided which day to travel. While the overall number of getaway trips is higher than last year, they are not as high as previous years when fuel prices were lower. The most popular destinations for the bank holiday weekend are Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, the West Country (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset), Wales, and Scotland.

Transport experts at Inrix are warning of longer-than-normal journeys on certain routes. On Friday around 1pm, there may be delays of 55 minutes on M1 North J12 to J16, 34 minutes on M25 anticlockwise J4 to J1, and 24 minutes on M4 East J29 to J24. On Saturday, the worst delay is expected to be 37 minutes on M5 South J15 to J23 around midday. On Sunday, there may be a delay of 34 minutes on M1 South J16 to J6 around 4.30pm. On bank holiday Monday around 2pm, drivers on M5 North J25 to J15 can expect their journeys to take 30 minutes longer.

Drivers are advised to avoid major roads between 10am and 7pm on Friday, between 10am and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, and between 10am and 4pm on Monday. The best times to travel are before 10am on Friday, Sunday, and Monday, and after 3pm on Saturday. Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at Inrix, expects the bank holiday weekend to be very busy on major roads, with Friday and Saturday experiencing the longest delays compared to normal.

In an effort to assist motorists during the August bank holiday, National Highways is lifting almost 1000 miles of roadworks. A total of 972 miles of roadworks will be completed in time for the late summer getaway, benefiting drivers heading to seaside resorts, airports, and theme parks. National Highways also urges drivers to have a safe T.R.I.P. and follow their new vehicle checklist. Senior network planner Frank Bird emphasizes the importance of drivers playing their part in keeping traffic flowing smoothly and recommends regular rest stops every two hours to combat fatigue.

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FutureCar Staff