Traffic unleashed after lockdown as record numbers take to road

WHAT a difference a lockdown makes.

These two photographs of the A64 near York over the Easter weekend and yesterday’s bank holiday show the difference in traffic since restrictions were eased.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday saw traffic levels plummet to record lows as the country remained at home under full restrictions at the pandemic’s peak.

And while roads were deserted, scientists saw air pollution levels drop dramatically with fewer emissions from vehicles.

While the pandemic is far from over with predictions of a second wave, restaurants, pubs, cafes and tourist attractions have since reopened and traffic levels have slowly crept back up.

The RAC predicted 18 million journeys would be made over the August bank holiday, with more people “staycationing” due to travel restrictions and fewer people taking public transport to maintain social distancing.

The figure was 1.8 million more than last year. Some 5.6 million journeys were predicted to be made on Friday, which is the highest of comparable days since 2015 when the RAC began tracking data.

Rod Dennis, a spokesman for RAC Breakdown, said last week that Friday “could turn out to be the busiest day on the roads, with potentially record numbers of people on the move – either heading away for a day trip or long weekend, or returning from a staycation”.

He added: “Even more so than ever this year, drivers appear to be all too aware that this is the last bank holiday before Christmas in most of the UK, and are desperate to enjoy some time away with autumn just around the corner.”