Revealed: Busiest day on the roads this Christmas
Motorists are being warned to prepare for a nightmare before Christmas, as around 19 million drivers hit the UK’s roads on December 21st.
According to an AA study of 20,000 drivers, the last Friday before Christmas will see the roads at their busiest over the festive period.
The survey found that 59% of motorists are expecting to take to the main roads and motorways on the 21st, likely leading to severe delays on major routes across the UK.
Combination of events
December 21st will see the combination of schools breaking up for the holidays, winter getaways, last minute Christmas shopping and the regular Friday rush impact upon the UK’s roads.
But other days will also be just as busy, with 53% indicating they’ll be travelling on December 22nd, with nearly one in three (29%) motorists planning on hitting the shops that day.
Christmas Eve is expected to be slightly quieter this year as it falls on a Monday, although around half of all drivers still expect to travel that day.
Motorists hitting the roads over Christmas are advised to check traffic forecasts before heading out to ensure that they can choose the safest and quickest route for their journey.
Alternative routes
AA Patrol Driver of the Year, George Flinton, said: “We want drivers to keep their festive spirit alive when they’re driving this Christmas and the best way to ensure hassle-free journeys is to plan them well.
“Christmas falling on a Tuesday may help to spread festive journeys out – but it also means more days of traffic as the getaway from work on Friday is followed by last-minute shopping traffic on Saturday and visits to friends and family on Sunday.
“It’s likely to be very busy at peak times on the major routes. Check the traffic reports before you go and try to travel when it’s quieter if you can or consider an alternative route to beat the jams.”
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