The Christmas getaway will continue today (Monday, December 23) with up to three million people expected to make journeys across the nation. Traffic experts are expecting lengthy delays on key roads such as the M5 once again as people travel for the festive period.
With the big day falling mid-week this year, the RAC said there is set to be a period of “pre-Christmas panic” on the roads. Motorists are set to make journeys right up until December 25.
With this in mind, the RAC said that the worst time to travel today will be between 10am and 4pm. Meanwhile, the best time to travel is after 4pm.
Experts are also expecting around 3.7 million journeys to be made tomorrow (Tuesday, December 24). They have once again advised against travel between 10am and 4pm, recommending people to make their trips after 4pm.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Our research suggests that with Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, many drivers will be squeezing in their getaway trips right up until the big day itself. While the getaway starts to ramp up from Friday, ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ looks particularly challenging, as does Christmas Eve. Travelling outside peak hours might be the only way drivers miss the worst of the jams. Planned rail strikes are also likely to add to the misery.”
She added: “There’s also no sign of traffic letting up throughout the Christmas period, especially as there are major rail engineering works taking place on routes into London and Cheshire. It’s well worth drivers being aware of these and the knock-on effect they’ll have on the roads as the affected lines serve larger areas across the South West, South East and North West.
“While journeys by road are likely to take longer due to the sheer weight of traffic, a vehicle breakdown has the potential to make matters worse and spoil the Christmas spirit. We’d encourage anyone driving home or away for the holidays to make sure their tyres are in good condition and are properly inflated, along with their oil, coolant and screenwash all being at the correct levels. Anyone who has any doubts about their vehicle should book an appointment with an RAC Mobile Mechanic as soon as possible to get it checked at home or work.”
Further warning motorists of severe delays, Bob Pishue, Transportation Analyst at INRIX, said: “With so many people expected to hit the road this holiday season, drivers should expect delays in and around major cities. Planning ahead is key to avoiding the country’s worst traffic jams, either by using navigation apps or the route planner in the myRAC app to find the best times to travel.”