August Bank Holiday traffic to peak at 17.6 million journeys
New data is predicting that 17.6 million leisure journeys are expected to take place by car over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
According to the RAC and INRIX, three million car trips will take place on Friday, rising to 3.4 million on Saturday. A further 2.4 million are planned on Sunday and 2.7m on Monday.
On top of this, 6.1 million drivers are planning trips at some point between Friday and Monday.
The busiest times to drive will be between 10am and 7pm on Friday, 9am and 5pm on Saturday and 11am and 6pm on Monday, while the best times to travel are after 7pm on Friday, before 9am on Saturday and before 11am on Monday.
Although the overall number of getaway journeys is down on the record figure of 19.2m in 2024, it’s still the second highest since 2020 when 18.4m drivers said they planned to get away as lockdown restrictions were lifted.
Getaway trips
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “With this bank holiday being the last opportunity to enjoy a long weekend before Christmas, our study shows a real eagerness to get out and about with nearly 18 million drivers planning getaway trips.
“More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations.
“We’re expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the South East and South West regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups. Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.”
