Weekend may be the busiest of year on roads, says survey

THIS WEEKEND could be the busiest of the year so far on England’s roads as coronavirus lockdown rules are eased, a new survey suggests.

Some 31 per cent of drivers – equivalent to 10.5 million – will be using a car for an overnight trip, the RAC poll indicated.

From Saturday, people in England will be permitted to spend the night away from their home for the first time in more than three months.

The RAC survey of 1,400 drivers suggested that this weekend 11 per cent will stay over at a family member’s home, eight per cent will be at a friend’s home and six per cent will go camping.

A further six per cent will either spend the weekend at a caravan site, in self-catered accommodation or at a hotel, bed and breakfast or second home.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “These figures suggest that after 15 weeks of lockdown, a large proportion of drivers in England are desperate to reconnect with friends, family and indeed nature by staying overnight, be that in a house or on a camping or caravan site.

“This could lead to some busy conditions on the roads, with the location of queues likely to be dependent on just how far people travel.

“Motorways and major A-roads could end up taking the brunt of the traffic if people have longer distances to drive to see family and friends or to take a weekend break.

“While our research suggests weekend traffic could be the heaviest of the year so far, a breakdown has the potential to make matters even worse.”

The RAC is advising motorists to carry out a series of checks before hitting the road, including tyre condition and pressure, and oil and coolant levels.

Meanwhile, mandatory MOTs for vehicles in Britain are being reintroduced amid safety concerns.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said vehicles which are due to take the test from August 1 will need to pass it to stay on the road.

A six-month exemption has been in place since March 30 as part of efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The policy has led to anxiety about vehicle safety, with a recent poll by retailer Halfords indicating that 45 per cent of motorists were worried about the condition of other vehicles.

Nearly one in three cars fail the MOT. Baroness Vere said: “As people return to our roads, it is vital that motorists are able to keep their vehicles safe.

“That’s why as restrictions are eased, from August 1 MOT testing will again become mandatory.”