Traffic ‘Don’t Impress Me Much’: RAC issues warning to drivers heading to Glastonbury

As more than 200,000 people head to the 52^nd Glastonbury Festival this week, the RAC is warning drivers not to rely on their sat-navs and instead follow the official signs to get them all the way to Worthy Farm as easily as possible.

While major roads such as the M5 and A303 will be far busier than normal, routes approaching the festival site at Pilton in Somerset are likely to be gridlocked with drivers facing long delays, with the forecast hot weather increasing the prospect of vehicles breaking down.

The company is advising drivers not to travel tired, to be prepared for delays by carrying plenty of water in the event of high temperatures, and to check their vehicles aren’t going to let them down.

Drivers coming from the north using the M5 should exit at junction 23 and head east on the A39 to the A361, while those coming from the south via the M5 should follow the event signage and leave the motorway at junction 25 for Taunton. Festivalgoers approaching from the east via the A303 should then follow the A37 north to Worthy Farm. People using the M4 in Wiltshire should head down to the festival from junction 17 on the A350 before going onto the A361 west.

With vehicles allowed to park on-site from 9pm on Tuesday 25, ahead of the festival starting on Wednesday 26, the RAC is expecting traffic to build from Tuesday afternoon into Thursday 27. According to the Glastonbury website, the worst time to arrive at Worthy Farm is between 7am and 2pm on Wednesday 26. The RAC also anticipates there may be more potential delays early in the morning of Friday 28, as this is the day when the main music stages open.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Traffic jams are enough to drive people ‘totally crazy’ at the best of times but can be even more frustrating if you’ve already been travelling for hours with a carful of tents and camping equipment. While it will be extremely difficult to avoid heavy traffic on the final roads leading to Glastonbury, you can take several steps to make the experience more bearable.

“While sat-navs are usually an excellent tool to save you time on the road, when it comes to getting to the Glastonbury Festival it’s far better to follow the official directional signs to get to the right car park. You don’t want to end up at the wrong entrance and then struggle to reach the other side of the site – this creates more delays for everyone and is a sure-fire way of arriving at anything but the ‘Speed of Sound’.”

RAC patrols will be on-hand throughout the festival to help with issues faced by every type of vehicle, including mud-induced breakdowns, flat batteries due to lights left on or doors left open, lost keys and lock-outs.

RAC Western patrol team manager Gary Hesketh said: “Getting locked out of your vehicle at the best of times is the furthest thing from ‘Paradise’, let alone when you’re feeling slightly ‘Bedshaped’ after five nights of camping. However, drivers can make life easier for themselves by doing proper vehicle checks to ensure their cars don’t overheat enroute and securing their vehicle properly after arriving on site.

“You can reduce the chances of a breakdown before you even start your trip by making sure your car is ready for the hot weather. Check your oil and coolant levels are at the right level and make sure your tyres are free of damage, have plenty of tread and are inflated to the right pressures. It’s also important to carry plenty of water and extra food if you know you’ll be on the road for longer than usual.

“When arriving at Worthy Farm, our advice is to remember where you’ve parked by noting your route colour and car park number, secure your vehicle by ensuring all doors are closed and locked and make sure there are no lights left on inside – otherwise a flat battery could greet you on Monday morning.

“Those prone to losing their keys should consider making use of one of the free-of-charge property lock-ups available around the festival site. If you do have a spare key, take it with you and lock it in the car, because then our patrols or locksmith partners can still gain access and ‘Fix You’.

“If you’re the one driving home, make sure you get plenty of rest before setting off and limit your drinking on the Sunday so you’re safe for the trip home on Monday. Driving tired is also extremely dangerous, so make sure you stop and rest up if you feel drowsy at any point.”