With bank holiday weekend on the horizon, traffic could be heavy in some areas. If you’re planning on travelling this weekend, it’s important that you’re prepared and up to date with which areas to avoid.
There’s a lot to consider such as best routes to take and best times to travel but a quick bit of research can put your mind at ease that you won’t be caught up in traffic. You don’t want to start your bank holiday off on the wrong foot with a delay to your exciting journey away.
Moto-way says: “Motorway traffic is considered to be lighter on certain days of the week, namely Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, particularly from 8pm to 6am.
“On the other hand, Fridays are more congested than any other weekday. They’re also more dangerous, with nearly 20% more accidents.
“Weekday rush-hours to be avoided if possible are 6am-10am and 4pm-8pm.
“The best time to travel on a motorway to avoid weekend congestion is early morning Saturday or after 6pm, before congestion becomes more likely around 11am Sunday.”
If you’re wondering what areas you should avoid, TomTom has compiled a list of the UK’s busiest bank holiday motorway routes.
It says the busiest routes are:
M1 between Sheffield and Luton
M5 between Bristol and Exeter
M6 between Preston and Penrith
M40 between Oxford and Uxbridge
Traveling on UK motorways during a bank holiday weekend can be challenging with millions expected to travel for a mini-break to enjoy the long weekend.
To ensure a smoother journey, it’s advisable to plan your route in advance and check for any roadworks or incidents that might affect your travel.
Also consider alternative routes in case there are any issues with your planned journey path.
Using live traffic apps such as Google Maps can provide real-time updates and suggest alternative routes if necessary but you should only use these if you have a passenger who is able to check them on your behalf while you are driving.
If you’re travelling this bank holiday, you should make sure your vehicle is well-maintained by checking fluid levels, tire pressures, and lights.
Carrying essentials such as water, snacks, and a fully charged phone can also be beneficial in case of unexpected delays.
