UK drivers face traffic nightmare this week with millions planning to travel - 'Prepare for delays'

Millions of drivers up and down the country could face roads chaos this weekend as schools break up for the summer and families embark on holidays and staycations.

Fresh data from the RAC shows that more than 14 million drivers will make a getaway this weekend as schools close for the summer holidays.

The RAC is forecasting the highest number of getaway trips in four years, while it will be the second-highest level since records began in 2016.

Only the summer of 2022 was busier when the country emerged from the Covid pandemic, and millions of drivers flocked around the UK for the first time in more than two years.

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Between Friday, July 17, and Sunday, July 19, 14.1 million drivers will be taking leisure trips, a significant drop compared to 18.8 million in 2022.

Despite this, the RAC is warning of a "Saturday summer scramble" where 3.8 million drivers are expected to take a trip on July 18.

An estimated 3.4 million individual trips are set to take place on Friday and Sunday, although many motorists have yet to confirm their plans for the weekend.

Almost seven million trips will be spread over the weekend, with drivers still deciding which exact day they will embark on their travels.

The South West of England is expected to see the bulk of the traffic, with nine per cent of drivers heading to Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

Drivers will also be heading to the North West of England (nine per cent), as well as Sussex and Kent (eight per cent), Scotland (eight per cent), East Anglia (seven per cent) and Wales (six per cent).

Harriet Hernando, breakdown spokesperson at the RAC, highlighted how many British holidaymakers are planning on travelling around the UK, rather than heading abroad.

She added: "This could be down to people having more confidence in the weather, as well as concerns over cancelled flights, higher air fares and EU border delays, which are no fun with a family in tow.

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"Drivers should be ready for the 'Saturday summer scramble' and plan their journeys, thinking about setting off earlier or later in the day to avoid traffic jams.

"People should prepare for delays and getting stuck in a jam in potentially very hot weather."

Further data from Inrix shows that getaway traffic will cause delays of 40 minutes on major routes from Thursday evening (July 16) between J15 and J19 of the M25 clockwise.

Similarly, the M1 South between J16 and J6 is forecast to see delays of around 80 minutes from 10am, with congestion expected throughout the day.

Motorists are also facing dilemmas when travelling with fuel prices, as it costs £8.90 more to fill a 55-litre family car with petrol and £12.20 more for diesel than the same time last year.

This was emphasised by Ms Hernando, who suggested that drivers would rather stay in the UK as they adapt to expensive fuel prices, rather than spend to go abroad.

She also warned Britons to be wary of the weather, after RAC patrols saw vehicle breakdowns soar in the recent June heatwave.

"Top faults included tyres - with blowouts more common in the heat as pressure in the tyre builds - batteries and, of course, overheated engines. But with the right TLC, similar breakdowns can be avoided during the big summer getaway," the expert said.

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