Up to 21 million Easter getaways expected, warns RAC
Drivers have been warned to expect delays this Bank Holiday weekend with nearly 21 million Easter getaways planned from Thursday, 2 April to Monday, 6 April.
This is more than a million more trips than the same weekend last year and would make it the busiest weekend on UK roads since 2022.
According to the RAC, more than 2.3 million trips are planned for Thursday, with a further 3.3 million on Friday.
The roads will remain busy during the weekend with three million trips expected on Saturday and 2.3 million on Sunday, before traffic escalates again on Monday to three million.
Additionally, a further 6.7 million drivers are planning a trip over the Easter bank holiday weekend but haven’t decided on their exact date of travel.
Traffic levels
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Sean Kimberlin said: “Despite fuel prices rising dramatically due to the conflict in the Middle East, our research suggests Easter remains incredibly important to people as it’s often the first chance to get away since Christmas or to meet up with friends and family.
“While a significant number of drivers are concerned about rising fuel prices, a much smaller contingent are actually changing their plans this Easter as a result. This is despite the cost of filling up a family diesel car increasing by around £19 compared to this time last year, and a tank of petrol being £8 more expensive.
“We expect traffic levels to be consistently high from Thursday when many schools break up. We advise drivers to plan for the best time to travel if they want to avoid significant queues, especially in traffic hotspot areas such as the M5 heading towards Devon and Cornwall and the M25. Congestion is likely to be at its worst from 10am from Thursday to Saturday and on Easter Monday, so leaving early in the morning is the best way to avoid the jams.”
