The August bank holiday is almost upon us – and with festivals, football matches and record numbers of Britons holidaying at home this year, roads up and down the country are expected to experience huge volumes of traffic.
The RAC has issued a report predicting that traffic will build up on all major routes during the early afternoon until late evening on Friday as people attempt to get a head start on the long weekend. Not surprisingly, they also forecast greater than average volumes on Monday evening and Tuesday morning as travellers make the return leg of their journeys.
Alan Wilcock, RAC Patrol Ambassador of the Year, says: “August bank holiday weekend is always one of the busiest of the year, whatever the weather, and with so many different events taking place up and down the country, the roads are likely to be packed. Families may also take the opportunity to grab a few days away before the kids go back to school.
“Over the summer holiday period RAC’s had extra Patrols at key times in recognised hotspot areas to help holidaymakers if they’ve had the misfortune to breakdown – and this bank holiday is no exception. It’s also really important that motorists plan their routes before setting off to avoid getting caught up in traffic as well as allowing extra time for their journeys and where possible try to avoid peak times.”
Those making the most of the last bank holiday until Christmas can expect a mixed bag weather-wise – with the Met Office forecasting a mix of sunshine and showers for most of the country. Some showers could become heavy at times in the north and drivers are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts before they travel.
Major events likely to cause local traffic disruption include:
27th – 29th August: Reading Music Festival – M4 (J10 & 11), A329(M) and A33
27th – 29th August: Leeds Music Festival – M1 and A1M (J44 & 45)
27th – 29th August: Solfest Music Festival, Cumbria – M6 (J43), A596, A595, B5301 and B5300
28th – 29th August: Creamfields Music Festival, Daresbury, Cheshire – M56 (J9, J11 & 12), M6 (J20/20A) and A56
28th August: Carnegie Challenge Cup Final, Wembley – M6, M40, A40, M1, M25, and A5
29th – 30th August: Notting Hill Carnival, M4, A4, A40, A5, A4202
RAC bank holiday travel advice:
1. Plan your route and have an alternative at the ready in case of delays or bad weather – visit the RAC route planner, check local radio stations or RAC’s live traffic information on 64644, which has the ability to detect your position from you mobile
2. RAC also has an app available to download for free2 which shows the start and end point of traffic congestion
3. Allow extra time for your journey, particularly if you are heading for a popular resort or you are travelling at peak times
4. Take something to eat and drink just in case you get caught up in traffic congestion
5. Make sure you have enough fuel for your journey – driving in stop start conditions uses more fuel
6. Never overload your vehicle or caravan beyond its designed carrying capacity – check your owner’s manual for the relevant information
Likely traffic hopspots include:
South East
M25 Bucks – between Junction 18 Chorley Wood to the M1 at J21 through the roadworks
M25 Essex – at J30 (Lakeside shopping)
M25 Surrey – at J9 (Chessington World of Adventures)
M25 Surrey – at J11 and J13 (Thorpe Park theme park)
M25 Kent – at J2 (Bluewater shopping)
M1 – at J10 (Luton Airport)
M1 in both directions between M1 J10 (Luton Airport Spur Road) and J13 A421 (Bedford)
M11- at J8 (Stansted Aiport)
M4 – Berkshire – at J4 (Heathrow)
M4 Berkshire – at J6 (Legoland)
M23 Sussex – at J9 (Gatwick)
M23 Sussex – southbound, south of J10, and on to the A23 towards Brighton
M20 – Kent- coast bound towards Dover
M40 – Oxfordshire – at J9 for Bicester (Bicester Village shopping)
A1M – Hertfordshire – roadworks in the Hatfield Tunnel between J3 and J4
Scotland
The A78 along the Clyde coast through Largs is always busy during bank holidays
A84 through Calander very popular with day trippers
Also A84 from Stirling to Blair Drummond safari park
A91 towards St Andrews
A82 between Balloch and Luss on Loch Lomandside – ongoing roadworks on the A82 on Stuckendroin Bridge by the North of Loch Lomond may cause congestion
North
Yorkshire & Humberside:
A64 between York & Scarborough
Cleethorpes – heavy traffic on all major routes in and out
Scarborough, Whitby, Bridlington and Filey with people heading to the coast – A64 from York, A171, A170 and A165
Sheffield – Meadowhall – delays on the M1 around J34
Cumbria:
Lake District – delays in Windermere, Ambleside, Kendal and Ullswater, M6 from J32 to J37
Routes in and out of Whitehaven – A595 in particular
A66 between Penrith and Appleby
North West
M55 towards Blackpool
M6 both directions around J32 – people trying to get onto the M55
M6 around J19 – people heading to Tatton Park
M56 towards North Wales and Cheshire Oaks shopping outlet
Routes in and out of Chester
A6 in Disley – people heading to Lyme Park
M60 around J9 and J10 for the Trafford Centre
South West
M5 southbound from Bristol J15 towards J31 for Devon – Friday afternoon and Saturday morning traffic is stop start and particularly busy on the sections where it goes from four lanes to three
M4 westbound from J19-J20 – always queues on a Friday afternoon
A30 in Cornwall – particularly the westbound stretch around the Chiverton Cross roundabout and around Bodmin
A303 westbound busy around Stonehenge and Amesbury
Midlands
Leicestershire:
Major roadworks on the M1 at J19 (Catthorpe Interchange) to replace the bridge
Lincolnshire:
A16 and A52 through Boston – lots of caravans going to and from Skegness and Sutton on Sea
Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire:
A46 past Newark and Lincoln towards Cleethorpes
Staffordshire:
Routes around Alton Towers – the M6 in Staffordshire and South Cheshire
Warwickshire:
M40 around Longbridge Island – Wellesbourne market and daytrippers to Stratford-upon-Avon
West Midlands/Staffordshire:
M6 from M5 up to J16 – travellers to the North/escaping Birmingham
Shropshire:
A5 westbound from Shrewsbury out towards Wales
Worcestershire:
M5 between M42 and J8, A46 and A44 around Evesham and Broadway
Herefordshire:
A40 from Ross/M50 towards Monmouth
If you need to cover your car for your bank holiday excursions check out the Know Your Money breakdown comparison section here
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