The RAC and transport analytics firm Inrix stated roads are prone to be busiest between 1pm and 7pm on Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21.

Hotspots the place queues are anticipated embody the M3 between its junction with the M25 and the south coast, the M25 anticlockwise between its junctions with the M1 and the M23, and the M53 from Chester to Liverpool.

The RAC stated it commissioned a survey of two,100 UK adults which advised 3.0 million leisure journeys by automotive are deliberate for Friday, rising to three.7 million for Saturday.

Getaway site visitors is predicted to peak on Christmas Eve, with 3.8 million journeys.

UK drivers informed to keep away from main roads this weekend

An estimated complete of 29.3 million festive journeys will probably be made between Wednesday and Christmas Eve, which is probably the most because the RAC started recording the information in 2013.

A separate RAC ballot of 1,074 adults indicated that 53% of individuals planning such journeys by automotive stated they are going to use that type of transport as a result of it provides them extra flexibility and comfort.

Greater than a 3rd (35%) stated their journey would take too lengthy by way of public transport, whereas 34% stated public transport was not a sensible possibility as a result of they had been travelling with a number of individuals or would have plenty of baggage.

RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson stated: “Our analysis means that with Christmas falling on a Wednesday this 12 months, many drivers will probably be squeezing of their getaway journeys proper up till the massive day itself.

“Whereas the getaway begins to ramp up from Friday, snarl-up Saturday seems to be significantly difficult, as does Christmas Eve.

“Travelling exterior peak hours may be the one manner drivers miss the worst of the jams.”

Inrix transportation analyst Bob Pishue stated: “With so many individuals anticipated to hit the highway this vacation season, drivers ought to count on delays in and round main cities.

“Planning forward is essential to avoiding the nation’s worst site visitors jams.”

Nationwide Highways stated greater than 95% of roadworks on its community of England’s motorways and main A roads will probably be lifted from 6am on Friday and won’t be reinstated till January 2.

This consists of 45 miles of roadworks on the M1, which had been put in place whereas extra emergency sensible motorway stopping areas had been put in.

Nationwide Highways customer support director Andrew Butterfield stated: “With extra individuals anticipated to journey in the course of the festive interval and up to date storms inflicting widespread disruption, it’s essential for drivers to plan forward and train additional warning on the roads.

Drink just a little. Threat quite a bit.

🍺 This Christmas, we’re supporting @THINKgovuk in urging younger drivers by no means to drink and drive pic.twitter.com/96PCP5lAI0

— The RAC (@TheRAC_UK) December 4, 2024

“To assist make journeys smoother, we’re eradicating roadworks on 95% of the roads we handle.”

Nationwide Highways makes use of the acronym Journey to remind drivers to: High-up gasoline, water and oil; Relaxation each two hours; Examine tyres and lights; and Put together by planning for extreme climate.

Rail engineering work will result in extra strain on the roads with a number of strains closed.

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London Liverpool Avenue station will probably be closed from Christmas Day till January 2, and no trains will name at London Paddington between Friday, December 27 and Sunda,y December 29.

There will probably be no direct companies between Crewe and Liverpool – and a lowered service between Crewe and Manchester – from Saturday, December 28 till Friday, January 3.

Providers within the Cambridge space will probably be disrupted between Friday, December 27 and Sunday, January 5, and no trains will run between Harpenden and London from Saturday, December 21 to Sunday, December 29.