Routes to ports such as Dover (pictured) could be busy over the weekend (Picture: PA Wire)
UK roads will be teeming with traffic over the coming days as the busiest summer getaway season begins.
Holidaymakers are packing their bags as millions head for summer adventures after the school holidays kick off across Britain on Tuesday.
It means roads are going to be jammed, with experts predicting a whopping 27,000,000 trips over the next week.
The RAC predicts a steady flow of traffic starting on Tuesday ahead of what is known as ‘Frantic Friday’ on July 26. That Friday alone is expected to see around 3,200,000 trips.
But some roads are set to be busier than others. And the RAC has helpfully revealed which spots could turn into traffic mayhem – and when to avoid them.
Where summer traffic hotspots are expected
UK roads are set to see staggered delays starting on Tuesday.
Here are the hotspots where traffic is expected to be the worst over the weekend.
A map showing the worst congestion hotspots on UK roads over the weekend (Credit: Metro.co.uk/Datawrapper)
Traffic into major UK airports and holiday destinations will start building from Thursday, July 25 onwards, transport expert Inrix has warned.
It said drivers could be hit with delays of more than half an hour between the Chiswell Interchange near St Albans southbound to Gatwick Airport, and the A303 eastbound between Ilminster and Andover – the main route to London and the Southampton and Portsmouth ports and ferries to the Isle of Wight.
But it’s said the worst is still to come.
A monster queue of over two hours is set to develop on Saturday lunchtime on the M5 heading south between J15 (M4 and M5 interchange near Bristol) and J23 for Bridgwater as holidaymakers head to Devon and Cornwall, Inrix said.
The weekend is likely to be the second busiest summer getaway weekend since 2015, the RAC said.
(Credit: RAC)
Only 2022 saw more trips following two summers of Covid lockdowns – 18,800,000 were made between Friday, July 22 and Sunday, July 24 that year.
To make matters worse for stationary traffic, Frantic Friday could see temperatures reach mid-20s in parts of southern England and London, the Met Office forecast predicts.
Saturday, July 27 will be the busiest of all days with 3,600,000 trips by car, followed by another 2,900,000 trips on Sunday, according to RAC data.
There could be as many as 13,800,000 trips made over the ‘weekend of woe.’
When to avoid travelling on UK roads
Inrix told drivers to avoid travelling between 12pm and 5pm both Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday, July 28, the worst congestion is expected 11am and 1pm.
Your best chance of avoiding the worst getaway traffic is if you hit the road after 6pm on Friday and Saturday, or 3pm on Sunday, according to Inrix.
Saturday will see the worst hold-ups. Delays on A-roads and motorways are expected to take third longer than usual.
Problems with your car could land you waiting for recovery on the side of a busy motorway, risk an accident or being pulled over.
RAC said one-in-ten motorists decide to drive to a holiday destination knowing there is a problem with their car such as a warning light, mechanical issue, fluid leak or poor tread on a tyre.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said this figure was a ‘truly frightening statistic’ and equivalent of more than 2,700,000 drivers ‘at the wheel of a faulty vehicle this week.’
She said: ‘Anyone heading off on holiday on Saturday or Sunday should expect a weekend of woe on the roads with journeys taking far longer than normal.
‘If you can’t set off really early, then it’s highly likely you’ll be sitting in traffic for quite some time.
‘Our research suggests this year’s getaway is set to be busier than average, possibly due to the UK inflation rate having slowed, giving people a bit more confidence to spend.
Traffic on UK roads on ‘weekend of woe’
RAC said drivers will make around 27,000,000 leisure trips during the great summer getaway.
Here is the breakdown of trips.
Tuesday, July 23 – 2,400,000 journeys
Wednesday, July 24 – 2,600,000 journeys
Thursday, July 25 – 2,500,000 trips
Friday, July 26 – 3,200,000 trips
Saturday, July 27 – 3,600,000 journeys
Sunday, July 28 – 2,900,000 trips
‘However, with our recent bad weather causing an increase in international travel bookings, queues to major airports should not be underestimated. We’d advise drivers to plan their routes well in advance if jetting off abroad this week.’
RAC urged motorists to book their car for a check-up before setting off for a holiday as vehicle TLC outweighs ‘the expense of a nasty repair and precious lost holiday time.’
Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said that drivers should expect ‘long queues’ on major roads.
Being flexible with your route – whether that’s a longer journey in miles or the time you leave – could ‘reduce the stress of being held up and make for a more enjoyable trip,’ he added.
Have you been hit by the summer getaway traffic already? Please contact noora.mykkanen@metro.co.uk.
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