Late May Bank Holiday travel warning over ‘double dose of delays’ as 17.9MILLION Brits to hit the road

A WARNING has been issued to drivers this Spring Bank Holiday weekend with delays set to hit millions.

A whopping 17.9 million Brits could be hit with a “double dose of delays” when they take to the roads with experts advising on the best times to travel.

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RAC have warned of the delays on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24 when the highest number of trips are expected to be made.

It is projected that each day could see 3.4 million journeys as Brits make a getaway for the long weekend.

This figure drops on Sunday, May 25 with 2.7 million trips expected.

This figure jumps up to 3 million on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26, for the start of the half-term.

On top of that, an addition 5.4 million trips may take place throughout the weekend.

Research from RAC suggests that the best times to hit the roads will be very early in the morning or into the evening.

A majority of drivers say they’ll set off some time between 5am and 12pm.

Drivers who are able to do so are advised to leave their journeys as late as possible as traffic is expected to peter out later in the day.

RAC Mobile Mechanic, Aaron Bryan, said: “Our research shows it really is best to leave as early or late as possible this bank holiday weekend, as the majority of motorists are planning to set off in the morning.

“While Devon and Cornwall remain some of the most popular destinations for summer getaways, many other major routes across the country could be hit by increased traffic – not least the M25 which so many drivers use to reach the coast and the South East.

“These stretches are likely to be equally as busy on Friday 30 May when drivers use the same roads for return journeys.”

Just 3% of motorists are planning their journeys for between 7pm and 1pm after the evening rush hour

The M25, the UK’s busiest motorway, is expected to see the worst delays this weekend according to travel analytics specialists INRIX.

On Friday, May 23, the day most drivers will be setting off, the M25 anticlockwise from Junction 4 to Junction 1 near the Dartford Crossing may see lunchtime journeys delayed by more than 45 minutes.

Later that day, the M25 anticlockwise between Cobham services (Junction 10) and Clacket Lane services (Junction 6) could face queues of 35 minutes during the evening rush hour.

Elsewhere, multiple routes connecting the West Country to the rest of the UK are expected to bear the brunt of journeys on Saturday, May 24.

Drivers could suffer hold-ups of up to 55 minutes on stretches of the A30 westbound towards Okehampton, the M5 southbound toward Bridgwater and the A303 westbound past Stonehenge.

For those travelling back home at the end of the half-term next Friday, May 30, journey times are expected to increase across the country by 35 per cent.

The RAC also advised to travel at cooler hours of the day if the warmer weather continues to save fuel and reduce the chance of older cars overheating.

Regardless of the weather, they advise all drivers to always check their vehicles‘ oil and coolant levels as well as tyre pressure and tread depth.

Aaron Bryan said: “Alternatively, an RAC Mobile Mechanic can check any battery or brake pad issues before you travel, along with diagnosing any faults signalled by dashboard warning lights.

“There’s no need to squeeze in a last-minute trip to the garage either, as we can come to you at home or work.

​“In hot temperatures, it’s wise to carry lots of water, food and a tool kit, with jump leads, torch and some first aid basics.

“In the worst-case scenario of a breakdown, make sure you’ve got an umbrella and sunscreen to provide shade for all passengers when awaiting assistance.”