Bank holiday traffic ‘worst in four years’
Motorists have been warned of bank holiday gridlock, with an estimated 16million cars expected to take to the roads. The RAC said it expected about 16.5million to take advantage of fine conditions by visiting friends and family over the weekend – the largest number of motorists on the road for four years. Traffic on major A-roads will peak on Bank Holiday Monday when nearly five million car journeys will be made, it said. About 4.3 million journeys will be taken tomorrow.
MOTORISTS are being told to brace themselves for bank holiday gridlock as the heatwave prompts an estimated 16 million motorists to take to the roads.
The RAC said it expected about 16.5million people to visit friends and family over the weekend in what will be the largest number of motorists on the road for four years.
Traffic on major A-roads will peak on bank holiday Monday when nearly five million car journeys will be made, it said. A significant number of people will also be on the roads tomorrow when 4.3 million journeys will be taken.
But today may be the most hectic as getaway traffic mixes with normal commuter traffic, the RAC said.
Much of the country has been basking in sunshine for the past few days, with temperatures reaching 80F (27C) yesterday and the hot weather is expected to continue today.
The RAC said the sunshine would encourage larger numbers of drivers out on the roads, although temperatures will start to drop tomorrow with a chance of rain and thunderstorms throughout the holiday weekend, according to the Met Office.
Rod Dennis, an RAC traffic spokesman, said: “The late Easter has meant there’s been something of a bank holiday bonanza this year, with up to four days off in the space of just six weeks.
“But that’s not stopping UK drivers from taking to the road for a leisure trip this coming weekend, especially as the weather at the start of the weekend at least is set to be dry, sunny and very warm for much of the country.
“While we’re expecting leisure journeys to reach a peak on bank holiday Monday – families setting off for a halfterm trip or taking a day trip to the coast – drivers should be warned that the roads are likely to see significant congestion today as getaway traffic and everyday commuter traffic combines.
“We’re expecting it to be bumper-tobumper from Friday lunchtime onwards on some of the country’s most popular routes.
“We expect the vast majority of roadworks on motorways and major Aroads to be either put on hold or completed in time for the weekend, which is good news for drivers but sometimes it only takes a single incident for delays to develop on parts of the road network that are prone to congestion.”
Dan Harris, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said: “We’re expecting lots of warm and sunny weather for the start of the bank holiday weekend with a chance temperatures may top 30C in places. If you’re planning a trip then make sure you plan for the hot weather, don’t forget sun cream as UV levels will be high, and plenty of water.
“By bank holiday Monday, it looks like it will be less hot and cloudier for many with the chance of some rain which could be heavy and thundery at times.”