Busiest Bank Holiday in nine years sparks weekend traffic warning

This August bank holiday (24 August) is expected to be the busiest in nine years with an estimated 19.2 million leisure journeys by car, new research from the RAC has suggested.

It is estimated there have been 3.7 million getaway trips planned, slightly ahead of the three million journeys planned every day on Friday (3.2 million), Sunday (3.1 million) and Bank Holiday Monday (three million).

Additionally, a massive 6.2 million trips are planned at some point over the last long summer weekend of the year, with drivers undecided exactly when they’ll travel.

The RAC’s research also found an overwhelming majority of journeys will be day trips, with 84 per cent of respondents saying they will be using their car for days out. Just 10 per cent of drivers say they will be setting off on holiday in the UK or abroad and six per cent will be returning home from a staycation or a foreign holiday.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “With the end of the school holidays fast approaching it seems day trips will be the main cause of traffic this weekend, so for many drivers it could be a case of ‘day trip delays’".

"It’s important everyone ensures their vehicle is in good condition to avoid facing an unwanted breakdown.

“Whether you’re off to a festival, the coast or a theme park or meeting up with friends and family elsewhere, the usual trusted advice applies: leave as early as you can to avoid the jams or be prepared to sit in some lengthy queues.”

The Port of Dover expects more than 20,000 cars to travel through its harbour over the August Bank Holiday weekend, covering both in and outbound journeys. It estimates peak hours to be between 6am and 1pm from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 August.