Drivers are being advised about the best and worst times to travel over the Christmas period. More than 29.3m journeys are expected to be made in the run up to Christmas Day, which is the highest number in more than a decade.
And because December 25 falls mid-week this year, motoring organisation the RAC is suggesting there will be an extended period of what they describe as “pre-Christmas panic” on the roads. The busiest single day for getaways is predicted to be Christmas Eve, with 3.8m separate getaway journeys expected by car.
They say that Friday, December 20, will see an expected 3m trips and then jumps to 3.7m on what the RAC is dubbing ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ December 21. Sunday, December 22, is set to see 2.9m journeys, but the motoring organisation’s research also reveals a further 4.7m trips are expected at some point between the 20th and 22nd, from motorists who are undecided on which day they’ll travel.
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Data provided by transport analytics specialists INRIX indicates lengthy jams are expected this coming weekend. On Friday, queues of more than 45 minutes are likely in the evening on the M3 in Surrey and Hampshire between the M25 in west London and the south coast, and on the M25 anticlockwise from the junction with the M1 near Watford to the M23 for Gatwick Airport as drivers leave the capital for the south coast or jet off for some winter sun.
Further north, the M53 northbound from Chester to Liverpool will be worst affected by delays during home-time traffic this Friday, when drivers going home from work share the roads with those starting their getaway trips.
On Friday and Saturday, they warn the worst time to travel along major routes will be between 1pm and 7pm, with both the RAC and INRIX suggesting drivers set off early in the morning, or later in the evening when the heaviest of the traffic should have subsided.
-Credit:RAC
After the big day, there are an additional 4.4m trips on Boxing Day and 3.8m trips on Friday 27 December, as many people continue the festivities or head home. Drivers should try to avoid major roads during the hours of 10am to 3pm, which is when journeys are expected to take significantly longer than usual. With railway engineering work taking place at Liverpool Street, Paddington and St Pancras over Christmas and New Year, major roads to and from London are likely to be impacted. Major signalling work in Crewe and Cambridge will also affect services across the North West and East of England, meaning roads in these areas could also be much busier than usual.
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.
“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.”
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.”