One in three planning a late August getaway
‘Summery’ might not be the best word used to describe the weather much of Britain has seen this August, but that won’t be stopping nearly nine million of us* from taking a road trip to enjoy the last bank holiday staycation before Christmas, according to figures from the RAC.
Despite forecasts of the month ending in something of a cool, damp squib, plenty of us will be on the roads – not least thanks to the bank holiday falling in the middle of the UK music festival season. It is also likely to be busy around major airports as millions of others jet off abroad to sunnier climes.
The RAC is expecting Saturday and Sunday to be the most hectic days on major motorways and A-roads – meaning smart drivers looking to avoid the crowds and escape for a late summer break will need to get away on Thursday (21st) or Friday (22nd).
RAC roadside operations manager Matt Dallaway says: “With it being the last bank holiday until Christmas and major music festivals happening in Reading, Leeds and elsewhere, we’re expecting this weekend to be a bumper one for traffic. As such we are advising drivers to allow plenty of time for their journeys and to plan for potential delays by stocking up on snacks, refreshments and something to keep the kids entertained in the car.
“For those wanting to try beat the traffic we would recommend setting off either late Thursday or early Friday morning. As always drivers should ensure they do some basic vehicle checks before they travel including tyre pressures, tread, oil, coolant and screen wash and ensure they are ready for any unexpected conditions on the road by travelling with emergency motoring essentials such as a first aid kit, a reflective sign and a fully-charged mobile phone.”
To help plan your journey and keep up to date with traffic conditions, incidents and roadwork, download the RAC App for iPhone or Android, or visit www.rac.co.uk to use RAC Routeplanner. Alternatively, you can use the RAC traffic line by calling 64644 from a mobile phone or 09003 444999 from a landline.
ENDS
* Research for RAC conducted on ragdoll w/c 18/05/13 with 1,034 respondents. 29.1, car owners in UK.
Notes to Editors:
For more information
Pete Williams – RAC press office | 07768 811595 | pete.williams@rac.co.uk
Rod Dennis – Bray Leino | 0117 973 1173 | rdennis@brayleino.co.uk
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