Summer holiday traffic to peak next week
Nearly seven million drivers are planning summer holiday road trips of more than 100 miles from 17 July to 23 July.
According to an AA survey, 10.7 million motorists will get in their cars and set off on their summer holidays during the week.
It found that 1.3 million motorists will travel more than 300 miles, with a further 5.5 million driving between 100 and 300 miles to their destination. Meanwhile, up to 15 million families will drive to destinations up to 100 miles away.
This makes it the busiest week of the summer holidays, with 9.8 million expected to travel from 24-30 July and 9.1 million taking leisure trips from 31 July to 6 August. The AA also found that 8.6 million and 8.2 million are expected to begin their holidays in the weeks from 7-13 August and 14-20 August.
Longer journeys
Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, said: “The first major school holiday week in England and Wales is always one of the busiest times on the roads, and our survey suggests many drivers are preparing for longer journeys as families head away for summer breaks.
“The warm weather we’ve already seen this summer may encourage more families to make the most of the school holidays, whether that’s heading to the coast, visiting relatives or setting off on a longer UK break.
“Before setting off, take a few minutes to check your tyres, oil, coolant and fuel or battery charge levels. Cars loaded with passengers, luggage and holiday kit work harder, so it is especially important to make sure tyre pressures are correct and that the vehicle is ready for the journey.
“A few minutes of preparation before leaving home can make a big difference and help prevent the start of a summer holiday turning into an unnecessary breakdown.”
