Drivers have been warned to expect significant congestion this weekend as approximately 17.6 million leisure trips will be taken over the August Bank Holiday period.
According to the RAC and transport data firm INRIX, major routes will experience substantial delays as drivers make the most of the final long weekend before Christmas.
Friday, August 22, is anticipated to see around three million getaway journeys, before increasing to 3.4 million on Saturday, August 23.
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Meanwhile, Sunday, August 24, will bring an estimated 2.4 million trips, while Monday, August 25, is expected to see 2.7 million journeys.
More than 17 million trips are expected to take place this weekend
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An additional 6.1 million motorists are planning to travel at various points throughout the extended weekend. Although this represents a decrease from last year's record 19.2 million trips, it remains the second-highest figure since 2020.
Transport analysis has identified the M5 between Bristol and Devon as likely to experience the most severe disruptions. The section from Junction 15 north of Bristol to Junction 23 at Bridgwater could see delays exceeding 40 minutes on both Friday and Saturday.
The M20 in Kent could face similar challenges, with afternoon delays of over 30 minutes predicted in both directions on Friday.
Westbound traffic from Junction 7 near Maidstone to Junction 3, and eastbound from Junction 1 at Swanley to Junction 5 at Aylesford, will be particularly affected.
Drivers have been warned not to leave their vehicles during peak traffic, as they could be fined
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Peak congestion is forecast between 10am and 7pm on Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday, and 11am to 6pm on Monday.
Motorists have been advised to travel after 7pm on Friday, before 9am on Saturday, or before 11am on Monday to avoid the worst queues.
Elsewhere, the M56 and M6 in Cheshire will face additional pressure from the popular Creamfields festival, which runs from Thursday, August 21, afternoon through to Sunday evening.
National Highways has warned that up to 70,000 festival attendees will converge on the Daresbury Estate site near Runcorn, creating significant congestion around Junction 11 of the M56.
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The M56 interchange with the M6 is also expected to experience increased traffic volumes throughout the weekend.
To help manage congestion, authorities will deploy additional police and traffic officers to manage the situation, particularly to prevent festival-goers from walking on the motorway, a recurring issue from previous years.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: "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."
He advised motorists to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy by checking oil and coolant levels, examining tyres for damage and proper inflation, and verifying adequate tread depth. The RAC anticipates an increase in breakdown callouts, particularly if warm weather encourages spontaneous day trips to popular destinations.
Drivers have been warned not to pick up festival attendees on the motorway
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Gary Farrell, National Highways' senior network planner, recommended checking current traffic conditions before departure and monitoring electronic motorway signs for real-time updates during travel.
National Highways also issued stern warnings about pedestrians attempting to walk on motorways, particularly around the Creamfields site. Anyone caught walking on the motorway or stopping vehicles to collect passengers faces financial penalties.
"We would like to remind everyone that the motorway is no place for pedestrians - it is dangerous and illegal, and having pedestrians on the network can cause delays for legitimate motorway users," Mr Farrell stated. He directed drivers collecting festival-goers to use designated collection points away from the motorway network.
Electronic signage across the M6, M56 and M62 will display advance warnings about the festival. The North West regional operations centre will coordinate messaging to guide attendees and alert other road users to incidents or congestion throughout the weekend.