Fleets warned of week of delays on UK roads

22nd July 2024

Fleets are being warned of delays on the country’s roads as summer getaway trips culminate in a “weekend of woe”.

The RAC and transport analytics specialists at Inrix estimate that 27 million leisure trips will be made over the next six days.

With most schools closing tomorrow (Tuesday, July 23), the RAC anticipates that holidaymakers will make 2.4m trips by car on that day alone, with leisure traffic gradually increasing during the week.

An additional 2.6m separate journeys are likely on Wednesday (July 24), 2.5m on Thursday (July 25), and a further 5.4m at some point between Monday and Thursday.

These figures bring the total number of getaway journeys between Monday and Thursday to 13m, before the end-of-the week rush begins.

Friday is expected to see a total of 3.2m trips ahead of what the RAC is describing as a “weekend of woe” with congestion peaking on Saturday (July 27).

Some 3.6m journeys are expected to be made on Saturday, only to be followed by another 2.9m trips on Sunday (July 28).

What’s more, there are a further 4m getaways planned at some point between Friday and Sunday 28 July, which means a total of 13.8m trips could be made throughout the course of the weekend.

Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at Inrix, said: “Drivers should expect long queues on major roads when heading to and from their destinations during this summer getaway.”

The RAC’s records show these three days will be the second busiest summer getaway weekend since 2015.

In that time, only 2022 saw more trips made, with 18.8m taking to their cars in extremely hot weather following two years of COVID lockdowns.

Inrix is warning drivers to avoid travelling between 12pm and 5pm on both Friday and Saturday and between 11am and 1pm on Sunday when the worst delays are expected.

The best times to travel will be after 6pm on Friday and Saturday, or 3pm on Sunday.

Saturday will see the longest hold-ups, with delays on A-roads and motorways expected to take a third longer than usual.

The Inrix data also shows traffic heading to major UK airports and staycation destinations will build from Thursday (July 25) onwards.

Delays of over half an hour are expected between the Chiswell Interchange near St Albans southbound to Gatwick Airport and the A303 eastbound between Ilminster and Andover, which carries traffic to London and the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth, where ferries leave for the Isle of Wight.

The single worst queue, of over two hours, is predicted on Saturday lunchtime on the M5 heading south between J15 – the M4 and M5 interchange near Bristol – and J23 for Bridgwater, as holidaymakers flock to Devon and Cornwall.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Anyone heading off on holiday on Saturday or Sunday should expect a weekend of woe on the roads with journeys taking far longer than normal.

“Our research suggests this year’s getaway is set to be busier than average, possibly due to the UK inflation rate having slowed, giving people a bit more confidence to spend.

“However, with our recent bad weather causing an increase in international travel bookings, queues to major airports should not be underestimated.

“We’d advise drivers to plan their routes well in advance if jetting off abroad this week.”