Traffic warning with gridlock predicted on major motorways

The RAC is warning of major delays on the UK’s roads with a record number of festive trips expected ahead of the Christmas break.

An estimated 29.3 million journeys will be made by drivers to see friends and family in the run-up to December 25 – the highest number since 2013. 

Almost half of these (14.3m) will be made this coming weekend, according to new data from the RAC and Inrix. 

As Christmas falls mid-week this year, the figures suggest there will be an extended period of congestion on the roads, with 5.7m trips being taken on Wednesday (December 18) and Thursday (December 19) alone. 

Traffic will increase further on Friday (December 20), with an expected 3m trips, before hitting an estimated 3.7m on Saturday (December 21).

Sunday (December 22) is set to see 2.9m journeys, but the RAC’s research also reveals a further 4.7m trips are expected at some point over the weekend from motorists who are undecided on which day they will travel.

“Travelling outside peak hours might be the only way drivers miss the worst of the jams,” Alice Simpson, RAC

The busiest single day for getaways, however, is predicted to be Christmas Eve, with 3.8m separate getaway journeys expected by car in addition to commuter traffic – nearly 800,000 more than Monday, December 23. 

There are a further 2.5m motorists who intend to travel at some point on either December 23 or 24.

Data provided by transport analytics experts at Inrix indicate lengthy jams are expected this coming weekend. 

On Friday, queues of more than 45 minutes are likely in the evening on the M3 in Surrey and Hampshire between the M25 in west London and the south coast, and on the M25 anticlockwise from the junction with the M1 near Watford to the M23 for Gatwick Airport as drivers leave the capital for the south coast or jet off for some winter sun. 

Further north, the M53 northbound from Chester to Liverpool will be worst affected by delays during home-time traffic this Friday, when drivers going home from work share the roads with those starting their getaway trips. 

On both Friday and Saturday, the worst time to travel along major routes will be between 1pm and 7pm, with both the RAC and Inrix suggesting drivers set off early in the morning, or later in the evening when the heaviest of the traffic should have subsided. 

There are an additional 4.4m trips expected on Boxing Day and 3.8m trips on Friday, December 27, as many people continue the festivities or head home. 

Drivers should try to avoid major roads during the hours of 10am to 3pm, which is when journeys are expected to take significantly longer than usual. 

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Our research suggests that with Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, many drivers will be squeezing in their getaway trips right up until the big day itself. 

“While the getaway starts to ramp up from Friday, ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ looks particularly challenging as does Christmas Eve. 

“Travelling outside peak hours might be the only way drivers miss the worst of the jams.”

She added: “There’s also no sign of traffic letting up throughout the Christmas period especially as there are major rail engineering works taking place on routes into London and Cheshire. 

“It’s well worth drivers being aware of these and the knock-on effect they’ll have on the roads as the affected lines serve larger areas across the south west, south east and north west.”

National Highways is removing more than 1,100 miles of roadworks from motorways and major A-roads to help minimise disruption during peak travel times.

‘December most dangerous month’ to drive on UK roads

New research from Samsara suggests that December is the most dangerous month to drive on UK roads.

A survey of 500 professional drivers say that, based on their experience of driving on UK roads, December is the month they experience the most: vehicle thefts (25%); accidents (21%); roadside breakdowns (17%); and traffic jams (16%).

Philip van der Wilt, senior vice-president and general manager EMEA at Samsara, said: “With December regarded as the most dangerous month to drive on UK roads, it’s imperative for all road users to take extra care when out on the roads. This includes professional drivers who will be busy transporting essential goods, groceries, and Christmas gifts across the nation this month. As well as field services engineers who will be on the roads keeping our essential services running during this period.

“Fleet-based businesses can offer peace of mind to their drivers by equipping vehicles with technology that serve as an extra pair of eyes on the road. Solutions such as real-time crash detection alerts, tracking devices, and connected platforms can help to protect drivers who find themselves on the road at the busiest time of year. 

“By empowering drivers and fleets with the tech they need to navigate these challenges, safety and efficiency can be prioritised, making the roads safer for all this Christmas.”