What will the driving conditions be like as UK gears up for reopening?
Drivers have been warned they could face severe queues this weekend as the Government eases travel restrictions and allows people to stay away from home for the first time in almost four months.
Hotels, campsites, B&Bs, tourist attractions and theme parks in England are able to open again from today – many have already experienced record bookings. The move is a major boost for the British travel sector as families will at last be able to leave home for a much-needed summer break. As with most lockdown measures, the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been slightly more cautious but expect restrictions to be eased soon.
And with restrictions on foreign travel forcing many people to cancel their holidays abroad, travelling by car for the traditional British staycation is set to be more popular than ever.
New research by car-share company Zipcar found that almost three-quarters of Britons haven’t had a holiday this year and almost half are now planning a break in the UK this summer.
There has already been gridlock in popular holiday destinations during the lockdown, with beach car parks in North Devon sealed off and police in Wales turning away drivers from tourist hotspots.
From Saturday, key travel corridors out of major cities and across the country are expected to be heavily congested as families pack up and head to the coast. Vehicle breakdown companies are on high alert and Highways England is urging people to only travel prepared.
Simon Williams of the RAC said their patrols would be in demand. “This is an unprecedented situation, as the country comes out of a very lengthy travel lockdown the likes of which we have never experienced before. We expect today to be the busiest day of the year on major roads and motorways away from the cities.
“The hope is that toilets and roadside cafes will be fully open to cope with the extra demand and still maintain social distancing. The RAC will keep extra patrols on duty and monitor the situation closely.”
The RAC says the usual getaway hotspots will be worst affected – the M5 in Somerset, the A303 in Dorset, A55 in North Wales, the A47 to Norfolk and all routes to the coast around Brighton.
A Highways England spokesperson said: “We want everyone to be safe this weekend and our advice to anyone driving on England’s strategic road network is to ensure that you and your vehicle are properly prepared for the journey.
“That means making sure you plan your journey, that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition and you continue to follow social distancing measures. Highways England will provide real-time traffic information to help you and we have Traffic Officers on hand to help those who get into difficulty on the country’s motorways.”
AA spokeswoman Sarah Lewis was more cautious about the risk of major jams. “Weekends are typically quieter than weekdays for both traffic and breakdowns. With the start of the travel lockdown easing beginning on a Saturday, it is likely to be much busier on the roads than recent weekends as people head out to enjoy newfound freedoms.
“Historically, our busiest days have been during extreme weather events, such as the Beast from the East [winter storm]. However, we don’t expect today’s easing to have the quite same impact on breakdowns, as the phased easing of lockdown restrictions has meant drivers have been getting back on the road gradually over a number of weeks.”
The weather can still impact traffic levels, particularly if it is hot and sunny as more people will head to coastal regions and beauty spots. The forecast for this weekend is on the cloudy side but generally warm, which might deter some.
Research released last month by the RAC claimed one in three drivers expect to take the summer holiday they had planned before the pandemic, with a summer staycation by car the favoured choice when lockdown ends.
The research, carried out with more than 3,200 drivers, shows that demand for a summer break is still strong. Nearly two-thirds of those who have cancelled, or expect to cancel, their existing holiday plans still want to have a break if they can – of these, a staycation in the UK by car is favoured. A further seven per cent are still looking to take their car across the Channel for a holiday.
“If summer holidays do become a reality for people this year, and some tourist amenities are allowed to reopen, we’d anticipate some large spikes in weekend leisure traffic on major routes to the coasts, lakes and mountains,” said Williams.
If you do grind to a halt surrounded by fellow travellers this weekend, then console yourself with the fact that the worst traffic jam in the country left drivers fuming for an incredible 15 hours. The incident on the M5 motorway in Somerset took place on August 4, 2017 and caused 36-mile tailbacks.
How to prepare for a long journey after your car has been largely redundant for months
Many drivers and their cars haven’t travelled further than the shops during lockdown and both can be ill-prepared.
Ben Sheridan, AA Patrol of Year, said: “Lots of people will be keen to hit the road for a summer getaway this weekend and while it’s tempting to grab a picnic and go, making time for a few quick car checks could prevent a breakdown from spoiling your plans.
“Before you leave, check the oil and coolant levels and tyre tread depth. Remember to adjust the tyre pressures for a heavy load if needed and look out for any damage or defects such as cracks or bulges.
“Research traffic conditions for your journey and try to avoid peak times if possible. If it’s hot, don’t forget to take plenty of water and consider using sun shades on the windows to help keep cool.”
Also allow plenty of time for your journey, including breaks.
The bottlenecks
Travel analyst Inrix UK provides traffic information for all major roads in the UK. Its top five bottleneck predictions for this weekend are:
1: M25 at Uxbridge
2: M5 at Junction 21 (Weston-Super-Mare)
3: M25 at Junction 11 (Chertsey)
4: M3 at Junction 2 (M25)
5: M4 at Junction 26 (Malpas Cross)
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