Busy roads warning as half-term looms

DEVON is one of the two most popular destinations for a half term break next week, according to a survey of drivers planning a getaway for the school holiday.

It shares the glory with Yorkshire, according to the RAC, who report that Dorset and Cornwall are also named by drivers as their destination of choice for a final break away before the start of winter.

The arrival of half-term in England and Wales is expected to lead to an “autumn rush” on the roads in the coming days, the motoring organisation predicts.

An estimated 19.4 million separate leisure trips by car will take place in the UK between Friday and Sunday, according to research.

A survey of 1,400 drivers indicated that Saturday will be the most popular day with 5.6 million journeys, followed by Sunday (4.6 million) and Friday (4.3 million).

An additional 4.9 million so-called getaway journeys are planned to take place across one of the three days.

Tomorrow is the final day schools are open before the half-term break in many parts of England and Wales.

The RAC confirmed that Devon and Yorkshire are the most popular destinations, followed by Norfolk or Suffolk, Dorset, Blackpool and the Lancashire coast, and Cornwall.

The poll suggested that the coronavirus pandemic is not putting drivers off making leisure trips as much as it did earlier in the year.

Just 6% of respondents questioned earlier this month listed the virus as the reason for not going away this half-term.

Over the August bank holiday weekend, that figure was 10%.

Back in May for the May Day Bank Holiday, 18% of respondents questioned said the risk from coronavirus had put them off planning a break.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Summer might be long gone but these figures suggest there might still be something of an autumn rush on the roads in the coming days as millions of drivers look to get away for the half-term holidays.

“That could well spark a jump in the number of breakdowns and, while many of these can’t be foreseen, a good number could be avoided if drivers spent just a little time looking over their cars before setting out.

“The key to a smooth journey is checking oil, coolant and screenwash levels are all where they should be, and making sure tyres are in good condition, have plenty of tread and are properly inflated. Not checking these things increases the risk of a breakdown significantly, which is the last thing drivers want as they head away for a well-earned rest.”