Bank holiday traffic NEWS - Best times to travel, roads to avoid and checks to make
MILLIONS of Brits are set to pack up their bags and get aware for the bank holiday, the last one before August. Here are some tips to avoid the worst of the traffic.
It is expected to be one of the busiest bank holidays of the year and congestion is expected to be at an all-time high.
Due to the recent good weather too more Brits are expected to hit the road.
It’s not just the congestion that Brits need to look out for but they also need to check their car before leaving to avid the potential for an accident.
Research by Halfords revealed that 25 per cent of drivers don’t check their car before heading out on a long journey which could spell bank holiday trouble for many.
Additionally a staggering 51 per cent of young drivers (between ages 25-34) are likely to continue driving their vehicle even if they are aware it has a fault.
The poll also found that 35 per cent of drivers are unaware that their front and back tyres need different pressures and a quarter of drivers don’t care to check the oil.
Halford and Tom Tom have put together a guide of the best times to travel over the weekend, based on previous bank holidays.
These are the best times to travel:
-Most roads enjoy lighter traffic after 7pm on the Friday, before 9am on Saturday and before 11am on Monday.
-For Brits travelling to the coast, the M23 between Caterham and Brighton also showed less congestion after 3pm on the Sunday
-Those intending to travelling on the M1 would be advised to wait until after 8pm on the Sunday
Natasha Chauhan from Halfords said: “Bank holiday road trips can be tiring as drivers put up with rowdy passengers, roadworks and wrong directions, so when it comes to having a less stressful bank holiday being prepared pays dividends.
“Our research also shows that only a quarter of drivers get their cars checked four months or less. Although, these are fairly simple it is important they are carried out frequently to help avoid hassle on road trips, which becomes especially tricky when we’re expecting delays or jams.
"If you’re unsure then pop in to Halfords for a free bank holiday car check before you set off.”
A TomTom spokesperson said “The technology to plan the best routes for any journey already exists. We want to help people better understand how to use it and to ensure they spend less time at standstill and more time doing the things they love most.”
Mix of sunshine and rain across the UK over bank holiday
Best times to travel by motorway:
M23/A23 - between Caterham and Brighton
Friday before 3pm or after 7pm
Saturday before 10am or after 3pm
Monday before 10am or after 3pm
M5 - between Exeter and Bristol
Friday before noon or after 9pm
Saturday all day
Monday before 11am or after 7pm
A354 - between Salisbury and Weymouth
Friday before 2pm and after 6pm
Saturday before 9am or after 3pm
Monday before 10am or after 5pm
M2 - between Maidstone to Dover
Friday any time except 5pm-6pm
Saturday any time except 12pm-1pm
Sunday any time except 4pm-6pm
M25 - between St Albans and Leatherhead(Southbound)
Friday before 9am, 10am-1pm and after 7pm
Saturday before 10am or after 3pm
Monday all day
M25 - between St Albans and Leatherhead(Northbound)
Friday before 1pm or after 8pm
Saturday before 10am or after 4pm
Monday all day
M1 - between Luton and Sheffield
Friday before 11am or after 7pm
Saturday before 10am or after 2pm
Monday before 3pm or after 8pm
M6 - between Preston and Penrith
Friday all day except 4pm-8pm
Saturday all day except 10am-1pm
Monday all day except 11am-3pm
M40 - between Uxbridge and Oxford
Friday before noon and after 7pm (there still are delays between 7am and noon)
Saturday before 9am or after 5pm
Monday before 3pm or after 8pm
A303 – between Andover and Yeovil
Friday before 11am or after 7pm
Saturday before 9am or after 4pm
Monday before noon or after 8pm