Drivers are expected to make an estimated 27m leisure trips by
car as the great summer getaway gets drawn out over the course of
six days, according to new data from the RAC and transport
analytics specialists INRIX.*
With most schools closing tomorrow (Tuesday 23), the RAC
anticipates that holidaymakers will make 2.4m getaway trips by
car on that day alone, with leisure traffic then gradually
increasing closer to the weekend. An additional 2.6m separate
journeys are likely on Wednesday, 2.5m on Thursday, and a further
5.4m at some point between Monday and Thursday.
These figures bring the total number of getaway journeys between
Monday and Thursday to 13m, and that's before the customary
end-of-the week mad rush for the roads even begins. ‘Frantic
Friday' is expected to see a total of 3.2m trips being made as
leisure and commuter traffic vie with each other for space on the
roads.
The data suggests, however, that it's likely to be a ‘weekend of
woe' with congestion peaking on Saturday 27 July, with a total of
3.6m journeys expected, only to be followed by another 2.9m trips
on Sunday. What's more, there are a further 4m getaways planned
at some point between Friday and Sunday 28 July, which means a
total of 13.8m trips could be made throughout the course of the
weekend.
The RAC's records show these three days will be the second
busiest summer getaway weekend since 2015. In that time only 2022
saw more trips made, with 18.8m taking to their cars in extremely
hot weather following two years of COVID lockdowns.
Transport experts INRIX are warning drivers to avoid travelling
between 12pm and 5pm on both Friday and Saturday and between 11am
and 1pm on Sunday when the worst delays are expected. The best
times to travel will be after 6pm on Friday and Saturday, or 3pm
on Sunday. Saturday will see the longest hold-ups, with delays on
A-roads and motorways expected to take a third longer than usual.
The INRIX data also shows traffic heading to major UK airports
and staycation destinations will build from Thursday 25 July
onwards. Delays of over half an hour are expected between the
Chiswell Interchange near St Albans southbound to Gatwick Airport
and the A303 eastbound between Ilminster and Andover, which
carries traffic to London and the ports of Southampton and
Portsmouth, where ferries leave for the Isle of Wight.
The single worst queue, of over two hours, is predicted on
Saturday lunchtime on the M5 heading south between J15 – the M4
and M5 interchange near Bristol – and J23 for Bridgwater, as
holidaymakers flock to Devon and Cornwall.
As millions of cars hit the road for summer, separate research by
the RAC reveals the extent to which some drivers take a massive
gamble before hitting the road with one-in-10 (11%) saying they
have driven to a holiday destination knowing there's a problem
with their vehicle, be it a warning light, mechanical issue,
fluid leak or poor tread on a tyre.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson 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 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. 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.
“It's a huge concern that one-in-10 drivers holidaying at home
have driven to their destination knowing there's an issue with
their car. That's the equivalent of more than 2.7m drivers at the
wheel of a faulty vehicle this week – a truly frightening
statistic – which may lead to a breakdown or even worse, an
accident.
“If you suspect something's wrong with your car or it needs some
routine maintenance, it's well worth booking an RAC Mobile
Mechanic to carry out a repair or service at home or work, in
advance of your holiday. The expense of a nasty repair and
precious lost holiday time far outweighs the cost of some
‘vehicle TLC' before you set off.”
Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said: “Drivers
should expect long queues on major roads when heading to and from
their destinations during this summer getaway. To receive the
most up-to-date travel information available, they should monitor
news outlets and use the RAC's route planner to
receive live traffic updates. Being flexible with your route –
whether it's the time you leave or a journey that's longer in
miles with fewer delays – could also reduce the stress of being
held up and make for a more enjoyable trip.”
Motorists looking to avoid a summer breakdown should take full
advantage of the expert advice available on the RAC's
website.
Ends
Notes to Editors
*Research conducted for the RAC by FindOutNow among 2,435 UK
adults w/e 12 July 2024. A nationally representative survey.
Figures extrapolated to 33m licensed cars
**Barclays Consumer Spend
Index
