With the UK set to enjoy a rare second scorching bank holiday this May, the RAC has warned of at least 14 million individual road trips set to take place between Friday and Monday.
Drivers might want to top up their air-conditioning systems as RAC research conducted with 2500 motorists suggests that many will be loading up their cars on Friday. The motoring organisation predicts that 4.5m cars will be joining thetraditional end-of-week traffic. Best work from home, then.
Not every driver will be out of the office on Friday, meaning that a further 3.8m journeys will be made on Saturday. Sunday and Monday will see around 2.9m leisure trips undertaken. If that isn’t enough, another 4.8 million had yet to decide which day to make their bank holiday excursions.
Despite rapidly rising prices at the pumps, which have added around £10 to fill-ups in the last two years, the Met Office forecast of temperatures in the mid 20s this weekend has convinced many that a late spring break is definitely in order. In addition, many will have spent last weekend in front of the TV, with the Royal Wedding and FA Cup final keeping many indoors and now in need of some sun. However, forecasters are expecting a few thundery showers, so drivers should definitely take care on the busy roads this weekend.
RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Our research focuses on those leisure trips drivers are planning especially because of the bank holiday – so journeys like day trips with friends and family, or perhaps departing for a short break or half-term holiday.
“Motorists planning on covering any significant distance should try to avoid Friday afternoon and evening and get away early on Saturday or Sunday to miss the worst of the jams. But with the UK’s constrained road space, and with road traffic at an all-time high, it doesn’t take much for congestion to occur so the message is to expect queues on some of the busiest routes, especially if the current weather forecasts become true. The fine weather a lot of us enjoyed over the last bank holiday sparked congestion on some parts of the network and this weekend is likely to be no different.
“Sadly though, taking a break by car this year is going to cost a lot more than in the last few years. Motorists have already endured more than three weeks of rising fuel prices at the pumps, and current data suggests they are not about to stop.
“Those looking to save the number of trips they need to make to fill up the car should follow some basic tips for driving as efficiently as possible: accelerate and brake gently (dropping gears to use engine braking where possible), change up the gears early in a manual car and stick to speed limits – in fact driving faster than about 55mph to 60mph sees the efficiency of car’s deteriorate significantly.
“It’s also a good idea to ensure that every tyre on a car is properly inflated, as this can also help improve efficiency. Some other tips to boost a car’s mpg – such as packing lightly and not using the air conditioning – are unlikely to be terribly popular among many drivers this bank holiday weekend.
The RAC has also issued a useful guide to the busiest times and routes it predicts for this weekend.
Expected busiest times on the road:
Friday May 25th 4.45 million 4pm to 7pm
Saturday May 26th 3.82 million 10am to 4pm
Sunday May 27th 2.86 million 10am to 4pm
Monday May 28th 2.86 million 12pm to 4pm
Planning a trip between 22nd and 29th May, but no date set yet: 4.77 million
Popular bank holiday traffic hotspots:
M25 between Gatwick Airport and M1
M3 south west of London
M4 west of London and between Cardiff and Swansea
A23/M23 to Brighton
A47 Swaffham to Great Yarmouth
M4/M5 around Bristol
M5 from Bristol to Taunton
A303 Stonehenge
A30 and A38 Exeter to Cornwall
M55 between Preston and Blackpool
A14 between the Midlands and the coast
A66 between M6 and the coast
M53 between Liverpool and Chester
A55 North Wales Expressway, Chester to Bangor
