The AA is predicting a bumper-to-bumper summer, with millions of
drivers scheduled to head to Britain's coast in the hope of a
traditional seaside holiday, meanwhile congestion is expected at
the port of Dover and Eurotunnel as drivers plan to head across
The Channel for their holiday.
With most holiday lets allowing customers access to their
accommodation from 16.00 on Fridays and Saturdays, The AA is
advising drivers to allow extra time when travelling to and from
their getaway. According to a poll last week, more than half of
drivers (56%*) have had their holiday spoiled by heavy traffic
when heading to their destination.
As well as longer vacations, millions are planning smaller scale
weekend escapes and days out to theme parks, beaches, forests and
areas of outstanding natural beauty. In August, drivers heading
on holiday will also mix with football fans as the Premier
League, Football League and Non-League fixtures kick-off a new
season.
Keep your wheels turning
Last summer, The AA attended around 400,000 breakdowns, including
18,000 suffering a failure on a motorway. Furthermore, a fifth of
those couldn't even start their journey, requiring assistance at
home. With the weather trying to
change course and shine through, the UK's number one breakdown
provider** believes that number could reach half a million as
people make a last minute decision to take a break.
Analysis of breakdown data across last summer and the two
Bank Holidays so far show that many could have been avoided with
the top three breakdowns caused by tyres, the 12 volt battery and
engine problems.
Eight out of 10 (81%) of drivers say they check the condition of
their tyres before setting off, but many forget to check their
spare wheel. Last summer, tens of thousands of drivers who
suffered a tyre breakdown didn't
even realise that they didn't have a spare wheel until The AA
arrived.
A trap for fuels?
Meanwhile, nine out of 10 drivers (90%) say they always make sure
they have a full tank before setting off on their journey, The AA
attended over a thousand incidents of drivers who ran out of fuel
last summer.
One factor behind this avoidable breakdown may be the high price
of petrol and diesel at motorway service stations. Retailers
charge a premium for fuel as they hope to capitalise on the
convenience of their location, but The AA Fuel Price Report shows
that filling up along major summer routes can vary by up to
£16.50 a tank.
Rather than fall into the trap of paying more for fuel, drivers
should identify a number of fuel stations before setting off so
they can plan their coffee breaks while also protecting their
bank balance.
Chris Wood, AA Patrol of the Year, said:
“Heading on holiday can be very exciting but can quickly become a
nightmare, with heavy traffic, bored kids, and stressed out
drivers.
“Motorways can quickly become clogged is due to breakdowns caused
by tyre and fuel issues.
“Our patrols attend lots of avoidable call outs during the
summer, particularly running out of fuel. Checking the basics
before heading off, and knowing where you can fill up enroute
could save you the cost and inconvenience of an interrupted
holiday.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
* Yonder received 9,839 responses from AA members to its online
poll between the 8th to 16th July 2024
Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by
its rules.
** Why we're best for breakdown |
The AA
