Drivers warned of ‘Frantic Friday’ traffic misery as holidays begin
DRIVERS in Wales are being warned of severe congestion on some roads this week as school summer holidays begin.
Motorists are expected to make more than nine million individual leisure journeys by car between today and the end of this weekend, according to RAC.
The breakdown cover and car insurance provider says it’s expecting the beginning of the school summer holidays to be something of a “frantic Friday” for many who want to begin their holidays as soon as possible.
While some areas in Wales will see their summer holidays begin next week, many will be finishing school for the summer today.
Research from the RAC suggests “getaway” traffic will hit its peak today with about 3.8m separate leisure trips being combined with weekday commuters on the roads too.
Tomorrow is likely to be the next busiest day on the roads, with the RAC estimating 3.2m leisure journeys by car, followed by 2.2m on Sunday as families take to the road to head on holiday.
They say the worst times to travel this weekend include between 2pm and 5.30pm today, 11.30am to 1pm tomorrow and noon to 1pm on Sunday.
Rod Dennis, from the RAC, said: “This weekend tends to be one of the busiest on the roads for leisure journeys, second only to Easter and Christmas. On some popular routes, this may well mean gridlock, especially through the second half of Friday when commuters and holidaymakers will be sharing space on the same stretches of the UK’s roads. As a result, it will almost certainly feel like a ‘frantic Friday’ for some.
“Where possible, we’d recommend drivers try to avoid the busiest times – or allow for a longer journey by planning in enough stops, especially if travelling with young children. It’s also essential drivers know their vehicles are up to the job – a 10-minute check of the condition of the tyres on your car, trailer or caravan, and oil and coolant levels, could save hours of misery.”
A spokesman for RAC said the M4 between Cardiff and Newport will be particularly busy today, along with the M4 at Swansea, and between Magor and junction 18, near Bath.
Mr Dennis added: “The next peak after this weekend will be Saturday, July 28 by which time the vast majority of schools will have broken up.”
Joshua Kidd, a data scientist at transportation analytics provider INRIX, added: “Our data suggests that the UK’s major transport corridors will be worst affected. As a result, the shortest routes may not be the quickest.
“Drivers should ensure they check live traffic reports before setting off and consider using alternative routes to avoid congestion. If possible, they should also try to leave early morning or in the evening, as the midday and early afternoon periods will be the busiest times to travel.”