DRIVERS have been warned to avoid travelling on key dates during what is set to be the “busiest August Bank Holiday ever”.
Nearly 20 million cars are expected to hit UK roads as Brits go “day trip crazy” over the break.
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With the Met Office predicting mild weather over the weekend, motorists will be flocking to staycations around the nation, according to research from the RAC.
The Club’s data suggests that drivers will take around 19.2 million “leisure trips” over the three days.
This is the highest figure since the organisation began tracking the stats back in 2015.
A whopping 84% of these are set to be day trips, meaning extra congestion at peak times on Britain’s roads.
Those hoping to beat the worst of the jams have been urged to pick their spots carefully to avoid the busiest hours.
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The RAC’s analysis suggests that Saturday August 24 will see the most activity.
A massive 3.7 million journeys are estimated to be planned for the date.
That’s just more than the day before with 3.2 million, while Sunday August 25 is set to see 3.1 million.
The Bank Holiday Monday is predicted to be the quietest period, although still with roughly 3 million trips expected.
Delays are set to blight Brits throughout Friday and Saturday.
Travel experts at data firm INRIX have suggested that the worst windows will come between 10am and 6pm on Friday and 10am and 1pm on Saturday.
The weekend also coincides with Leeds and Reading festivals, with extra congestion predicted on routes including the A1, M62, M4 and A64.
The RAC recommends avoiding these roads where possible and trying to plan your journey outside of the most affected times.
National Highways has announced that it will be lifting more than 500 miles of roadworks across the country to accommodate the extra demand.
Bosses estimate that 97% of the road network will be without roadworks in time for the rush.
Whether you’re off to a festival, the coast or a theme park or meeting up with friends and family elsewhere, the usual trusted advice applies
Alice Simpson
And for those travelling overseas, the Port of Dover expects around 20,000 visitors across the weekend, with peak hours between 6am and 1pm from Friday to Sunday.
Alice Simpson, spokesperson for RAC Breakdown, said: “With the end of the school holidays fast approaching it seems day trips will be the main cause of traffic this weekend, so for many drivers it could be a case of ‘day trip delays’.
“As our data shows, this weekend is likely to be the busiest August Bank Holiday on the roads for nine years, so it’s important everyone ensures their vehicle is in good condition to avoid facing an unwanted breakdown.
“Whether you’re off to a festival, the coast or a theme park or meeting up with friends and family elsewhere, the usual trusted advice applies: leave as early as you can to avoid the jams or be prepared to sit in some lengthy queues.”
National Highways’ network manager Dale Hipkiss added: “We anticipate the roads will be busier than usual and are reminding people to check before they travel and leave plenty of extra time.
“Seaside resorts, airports and theme parks are likely to be amongst some of the most popular destinations, along with attractions such as Leeds Festival, and routes in Kent will also be busier as people head to Europe via the ports for some last-minute sun.”