The RAC predicts 27m summer getaway trips culminating in a ‘weekend of woe’ on the roads

Drivers are expected to make an estimated 27m leisure trips by car as the great summer getaway gets drawn out over the course of six days, according to new data from the RAC and transport analytics specialists INRIX.*

With most schools closing tomorrow (Tuesday 23), the RAC anticipates that holidaymakers will make 2.4m getaway trips by car on that day alone, with leisure traffic then gradually increasing closer to the weekend. An additional 2.6m separate journeys are likely on Wednesday, 2.5m on Thursday, and a further 5.4m at some point between Monday and Thursday.

These figures bring the total number of getaway journeys between Monday and Thursday to 13m, and that’s before the customary end-of-the week mad rush for the roads even begins. ‘Frantic Friday’ is expected to see a total of 3.2m trips being made as leisure and commuter traffic vie with each other for space on the roads.

The data suggests, however, that it’s likely to be a ‘weekend of woe’ with congestion peaking on Saturday 27 July, with a total of 3.6m journeys expected, only to be followed by another 2.9m trips on Sunday. What’s more, there are a further 4m getaways planned at some point between Friday and Sunday 28 July, which means a total of 13.8m trips could be made throughout the course of the weekend.

The RAC’s records show these three days will be the second busiest summer getaway weekend since 2015. In that time only 2022 saw more trips made, with 18.8m taking to their cars in extremely hot weather following two years of COVID lockdowns.

Transport experts INRIX are warning drivers to avoid travelling between 12pm and 5pm on both Friday and Saturday and between 11am and 1pm on Sunday when the worst delays are expected. The best times to travel will be after 6pm on Friday and Saturday, or 3pm on Sunday. Saturday will see the longest hold-ups, with delays on A-roads and motorways expected to take a third longer than usual.

The INRIX data also shows traffic heading to major UK airports and staycation destinations will build from Thursday 25 July onwards. Delays of over half an hour are expected between the Chiswell Interchange near St Albans southbound to Gatwick Airport and the A303 eastbound between Ilminster and Andover, which carries traffic to London and the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth, where ferries leave for the Isle of Wight.

The single worst queue, of over two hours, is predicted on Saturday lunchtime on the M5 heading south between J15 – the M4 and M5 interchange near Bristol – and J23 for Bridgwater, as holidaymakers flock to Devon and Cornwall.

As millions of cars hit the road for summer, separate research by the RAC reveals the extent to which some drivers take a massive gamble before hitting the road with one-in-10 (11%) saying they have driven to a holiday destination knowing there’s a problem with their vehicle, be it a warning light, mechanical issue, fluid leak or poor tread on a tyre.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Anyone heading off on holiday on Saturday or Sunday should expect a weekend of woe on the roads with journeys taking far longer than normal. If you can’t set off really early, then it's highly likely you’ll be sitting in traffic for quite some time.

“Our research suggests this year’s getaway is set to be busier than average, possibly due to the UK inflation rate having slowed, giving people a bit more confidence to spend. However, with our recent bad weather causing an increase in international travel bookings, queues to major airports should not be underestimated.** We’d advise drivers to plan their routes well in advance if jetting off abroad this week.

“It’s a huge concern that one-in-10 drivers holidaying at home have driven to their destination knowing there’s an issue with their car. That’s the equivalent of more than 2.7m drivers at the wheel of a faulty vehicle this week – a truly frightening statistic – which may lead to a breakdown or even worse, an accident.

“If you suspect something’s wrong with your car or it needs some routine maintenance, it’s well worth booking an RAC Mobile Mechanic to carry out a repair or service at home or work, in advance of your holiday. The expense of a nasty repair and precious lost holiday time far outweighs the cost of some ‘vehicle TLC’ before you set off.”

Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said: “Drivers should expect long queues on major roads when heading to and from their destinations during this summer getaway. To receive the most up-to-date travel information available, they should monitor news outlets and use the RAC’s route planner to receive live traffic updates. Being flexible with your route – whether it’s the time you leave or a journey that’s longer in miles with fewer delays – could also reduce the stress of being held up and make for a more enjoyable trip.”

Motorists looking to avoid a summer breakdown should take full advantage of the expert advice available on the RAC’s website.

*Research conducted for the RAC by FindOutNow among 2,435 UK adults w/e 12 July 2024. A nationally representative survey. Figures extrapolated to 33m licensed cars.

**Barclays Consumer Spend Index