Christmas travel update: If you are driving home for the holidays, expect three-hour delays
UK drivers should expect delays of up to three hours on Thursday 20 December, as Christmas traffic congestion peaks.
As many as 20 million journeys will take place this week in the run-up to Christmas, according to research from the RAC and travel analytic specialist INRIX.
The RAC is warning drivers using the M25, M6 and M40 in particular, between Wednesday 19 and Friday 21 December, that they should plan for delays.
Travellers using the northbound section of the M6 are advised they could face traffic jams of up to three hours between junctions 15 and 25 on Thursday 20 December, while on Friday, road users using the M40 southbound between the M42 and junction 8A could be stuck in queues of up to an hour and a half.
Thursday 20 and Friday 21 December are set to be two of the most congested days on UK roads, with more than 5 million journeys expected.
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A combination of commuter traffic and drivers travelling around the country to visit friends and family are one explanation for the heavy numbers of vehicles on the road.
These numbers are further exacerbated by rail disruption and air travel. Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham airports are all expecting Friday 21 December to be their busiest day of the winter, with 248,465 passengers moving through Heathrow Airport on one day alone.
However, 6.8 million people are expected to hit the roads this Boxing Day as Brits travel around the country to visit friends and family. On Thursday 27 December, 4.4 million car journeys are predicted around the UK.
Despite the heavy traffic, Highways England has confirmed that 97 per cent of roads on their network will remain free of roadworks, in an attempt to keep traffic moving during this busy time.
Mark Souster, RAC Patrol of the Year, advises drivers to plan ahead before their journey.
“It’s vitally important every driver planning a trip gives their car a once over to make sure it’s up to the job, as a single breakdown can bring some roads to a grinding halt, slowing down the Christmas getaway for all of us,” he said.
“A few moments spent checking things like fuel, oil, coolant and screen-wash levels and the condition and pressure of tyres could make the difference between a stress-free journey and one plagued by a breakdown.
“It might feel like yet another thing to think about before Christmas but it’s a fact that many of the breakdowns we see are avoidable if drivers just do these few checks before they set out.”
Best times to travel by car this Christmas
Wednesday 19 December: after 7.30pm
Thursday 20 December: after 8pm
Friday 21 December: after 7.30pm
Saturday 22 December: before 9.30am or after 7.30pm
Sunday 23 December: before 11am or after 8pm
Monday 24 December: before 11am or after 1pm
