Around 18 million people are expected to be on the road this weekend
Motorists planning to travel during the August bank holiday are being warned to prepare for significant delays on major routes, with nearly 18 million car journeys anticipated. Drivers are advised to set off early or be prepared for extended periods in traffic if they plan to take a trip this weekend – the final long weekend before Christmas.
The RAC predicts that 17.6 million car journeys will be made nationwide from Friday to Monday, with the South East and South West expected to experience the worst congestion. Approximately three million journeys for holidays or day trips are forecasted to be made on Friday by drivers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to the motoring group.
This figure is set to increase to 3.4 million on Saturday, 2.4 million on Sunday and 2.7 million on Monday. An additional 6.1 million drivers are expected to hit the road at some point between Friday and Monday.
The most congested travel times this weekend are predicted to be on Friday between 10am and 7pm; on Saturday from 9am to 5pm; and on Monday between 11am and 6pm. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “With this bank holiday being the last opportunity to enjoy a long weekend before Christmas, our study shows a real eagerness to get out and about with nearly 18million drivers planning getaway trips.
“More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations.
“We’re expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the south-east and south-west regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups.
“Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.”
Transport analytics firm Inrix has forecasted that the M5 between Bristol and Devon will see the heaviest getaway traffic.
Tips for road safety
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has offered some road safety advice, as road casualties in and around some UK holiday hotspots last August increased by over 30% on the year before.
According to the Department for Transport’s provisional data for 2024, the counties with the highest rise in casualties in August were:
- Hampshire: saw 420 casualties – or a rise of nearly a third (31.3 percent), compared with 2023.
- Avon and Somerset: saw 334 casualties – or a 30.5 per cent rise compared with 2023
- Sussex: saw 427 casualties – or over a 20 per cent rise.
Rebecca Guy, Senior Policy Manager at RoSPA, said: “The August Bank Holiday is a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to enjoy a well-earned break, explore the countryside, or head to the coast. With warm weather forecast and many people expected to travel, we want everyone to make the most of their getaway — safely.
The DfT’s data shows that road incidents tend to rise in popular holiday regions during August, so it’s important to stay alert, plan ahead, and drive according to the road conditions. Whether you’re heading to Sussex, Devon, Kent or beyond, a few simple precautions — like taking regular breaks, checking the forecast, and avoiding distractions — can help ensure your journey is as enjoyable as your destination.”
RoSPA’s Road Safety Advice for the Bank Holiday Weekend:
- Check the forecast before travelling: Be aware of changing conditions, especially on Monday when rain may affect visibility and road surface conditions.
- Plan your journey: Allow extra time for travel and try to avoid peak congestion periods.
- Stay alert and avoid distractions: With more vehicles on the road, vigilance is key to preventing incidents.
- Drive to the conditions: Adjust your speed and following distance in response to weather and traffic.
- Take regular breaks: Fatigue can impair reaction times and decision-making—especially on long journeys.
Delays also expected on rail network
Rail passengers are being warned that some major routes will be closed for engineering work as Network Rail continues with their work on 261 projects across Britain.
On Sunday, there will be no long-distance services between London King’s Cross and Peterborough, affecting Anglo-Scottish journeys by LNER and Lumo on the East Coast Main Line.
Avanti West Coast will run a reduced and amended service to and from London Euston.
From Saturday to Monday, no services will operate between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International.
Affected Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry services will be rerouted, leading to extended journey times, while London Northwestern services will only run to and from Birmingham International.
The majority of the railway will be operational, but works on some parts of the network are unavoidable as we complete major work to support a better, more reliable railway that wouldn’t be possible in a normal weekend.
Passengers are advised to check their journeys in advance to ensure their route isn’t affected.
Passengers using CrossCountry trains are also likely to face significant disruption due to strike action by the RMT union.
This means CrossCountry will operate a reduced timetable, with no services on Saturday and a ‘very limited service’ on Monday between 8am and 6pm. Services on Sunday are also expected to be cancelled across all CrossCountry routes.
National Express, the coach operator, has announced plans to increase capacity by adding an extra 9,000 seats on intercity services this weekend in response to planned industrial action.
The additional capacity will be available on routes serving Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Bolton, Cardiff, Hull, London, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Swansea and Wolverhampton. The company also revealed that passenger numbers for this weekend are already up by 20% compared to the same period last year.
Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s chief network operator, stated: “With the August bank holiday weekend approaching, we’ve carefully planned our engineering work to minimise disruption, allowing people to rely on the railway and make the most of the late summer bank holiday weekend.
“While the vast majority of the railway will be running, works on some parts of the network are unfortunately unavoidable, as we complete major work to support a better, more reliable railway that we wouldn’t be able to complete in a normal weekend.
“So we’re asking passengers to check their journeys in advance to ensure their route isn’t affected.”
