Warning of extra busy weekend on the roads

MOTORISTS are being warned to brace themselves for an extra busy summer bank holiday weekend.

Recovery and motor group RAC says it expects there to be twice the number of vehicles on the road this coming weekend compared with the same period last year.

The RAC predicts there will be around 20.7 million leisure trips during the period from Thursday, August 25, to Monday, August 29, as many Brits set off to enjoy the last long weekend before Christmas.

Last year, 10.1 million leisure trips were made during the August bank holiday weekend.

If accurate, it will be another blow to beleaguered motorists in Birmingham and the West Midlands as they continually battle with roadworks.

Many drivers leave landlocked West Midlands and head for the Wales coast, adding extra pressure to the M6 and M5 travelling north and joining major trunk roads in Shropshire.

Among the likely hotspots are those passing through Birmingham city centre via the Paradise development and Aston Expressway restrictions and the roadworks on the southbound M6 between junctions 8 and 7.

Birmingham City, Coventry City, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall and West Bromwich Albion football clubs are all also playing at home on either Saturday or Sunday.

The RAC’s study of motorists’ plans found that Saturday is set to be by far the busiest day, with five million getaways planned, double what was seen on the same day in 2015.

Sunday is also likley to be a busy one with 4.4 million leisure journeys taking place, double the number last year.

RAC Traffic Watch spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Our study of drivers’ plans for the late August bank holiday certainly suggests a bumper time on the roads as motorists make the most of the last long weekend before the end of the summer by jumping in the car to see friends or family.

“The see-saw weather patterns look set to continue but any doubts about the weather clearly are not playing on motorists’ minds with so many of us planning a late August break.

“Drivers can expect some queues, especially on the busiest routes to the coasts, Lake District and major cities, but by planning ahead and looking at alternative routes they can help alleviate some of the stress that can be associated with long car journeys.”

RAC’s predicted car journeys: Thursday, August 25 – 3.1 million; Friday, August 26 – 4.1 million; Saturday, August 27 – 5 million; Sunday, August 28 – 4.4 million; Monday, August 29 – 4.1 million.