Drivers could face traffic gridlock this coming weekend, with more than 17 million car trips expected to be made between Friday and Monday (April 28 to May 1).
Chaos is expected on the roads, with the RAC warning traffic will be busier this bank holiday than it will be for King Charles’s upcoming Coronation weekend.
Road experts say they are expecting around 17.2 million “leisure trips” will be made on Britain’s roads between Friday and Monday, with traffic peaking on Friday afternoon and early evening as Brits try to get away for the long weekend.
RAC chiefs say they are expecting traffic to be the busiest for an early May bank holiday weekend since 2016.
Drivers have been advised to set off earlier — before 11am on Friday — to avoid traffic chaos.
The pressure on the roads is also being made worse by railway works, meaning more people will be turning to their cars to make journeys — even shorter ones they would normally use trains for.
Network Rail will be carrying out more than 600 engineering works across the rail network, and London Euston — a route used often for travelling between the capital and northern cities — will be shut on Sunday.
Rod Dennis, a spokesman for the RAC, said many busy routes will also be affected by what happens with the “Great British weather”.
He said: “The weather might still be unseasonably chilly but this won’t stop drivers getting out and about over the double bank holiday weekends to make the most of some extra days off.
“If temperatures finally increase and the sun makes more of an appearance, we could well see many more people jumping in the car for a quick trip.
“In order to avoid any disappointment caused from cars letting everyone on board down, we urge drivers to check tyres, oil, and coolant levels as matters of priority before they hit the road.”
