Eight and a half million leisure trips planned this spring bank holiday
With the early Easter break a distant memory, drivers look set to make the most of the upcoming long weekend with at least 8.5 million leisure trips by car planned, according to new research of motorists’ travel plans conducted by the RAC.*
Drivers keen to make a dash on Friday May 4th will be hoping that the ‘fourth will be with them’ as regular commuter traffic also vies for space on the nation’s congested roads. In total, around 2.9m trips are planned for that day with the majority of these likely to be condensed into the afternoon and into the evening rush hour. Saturday looks to be the next busiest day with around 2.5m leisure trips scheduled, followed by bank holiday Monday itself with 1.9m.
But the real numbers of cars on the road could turn out to be millions more depending on what the weather has in store. It looks like many of us will see warmer and more settled conditions for much of the bank holiday weekend, and increased sunshine levels will doubtless tempt many more of us to jump in the car to enjoy a day trip or short break away. Coastal regions, and the major roads that lead to them, are likely to see some of the largest increases in traffic.
Planned leisure journeys by car
Expected busiest times on the road
Friday May 4th
2.86 million
4pm to 7pm
Saturday May 5th
2.54 million
10am to 4pm
Sunday May 6th
1.27 million
10am to 4pm
Monday May 7th
1.91 million
12pm to 4pm
Planning a trip between 1st and 9th May, but no date set yet
4.45 million
RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “While wall-to-wall sunshine might not be on the cards for everyone this bank holiday weekend, many will still be keen to make the most of the early May warmth by escaping in the car to spend time with family or friends – especially after the recent chilly spell that even lead to some overnight frosts at the start of this week.
“While motorists have told us about their firm travel plans as part of our research, if we see things really warm up by the weekend it’s likely to mean millions more cars on the road, which is bound to cause queues on popular routes.
“We urge all drivers to give their cars a quick once over before they set off, especially if they are planning on driving any great distance. Spending just a few moments checking things like the oil and coolant levels, together with tyre pressure and condition, could save hours stuck at the side of the road while everyone else enjoys the long weekend.”
Chris Bulmer, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office said: “Not everyone will see continuous sunshine this Bank Holiday weekend, however, it’s looking like a most of us will get to see some warm sun at times. Parts of Scotland and perhaps Northern Ireland will occasionally be cloudy with some rain, mainly in the west.
“The best of the sunshine and the highest temperatures this weekend are expected across England and Wales away from the coast. For Bank Holiday Monday itself it is possible that temperatures could be near record-breaking. We’ll keep you updated with the details over the next few days.”
The RAC website has comprehensive advice to drivers on how to reduce the chances of a vehicle breakdown. Highways England, together with THINK!, is also running a campaign on the importance of conducting ‘pre-drive checks’.
