Motorists protesting skyrocketing fuel prices are causing travel disruption across the UK.
A series of ‘go-slow’ demonstrations took over key motorways near Bristol during peak Monday morning traffic, while several protests where organised outside petrol forecourts across the UK.
Commuters were warned by police to take alternative routes, but congestion is also expected on those.
What are the protests?
Drivers are protesting in response to ballooning petrol and diesel prices. Fuel price hikes have compounded the cost of living crisis which has seen electricity and food prices increase.
A Facebook group under the name ‘Fuel Price Stand Against Tax’ has attracted almost 50,000 members. Another group, Stand Up to Fuel Prices, encouraged angry drivers to take action from 6am on Monday.
Some protesters claim they had to leave their jobs because they could not afford fuel any longer, and others who drive long distances for work say high prices are damaging their livelihoods.
The average cost of filling up a family car has exceeded £100, the RAC said.
Unleaded petrol has reached an average cost of 191.43p per litre across the UK, and diesel 199.05p per litre.
In comparison the average cost of unleaded petrol was 163.03p per litre in April.
Price hikes are happening globally due to a number of factors, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Covid pandemic.
Where is disruption expected to hit?
Protesters are expected to cause traffic delays on the outskirts of Bristol, as they slowly trek between South Wales and England, and possibly towards Somerset.
Protesters have disrupted morning rush-hour traffic travelling in both directions across the M4 and Prince of Wales Bridge between Caldicot and Severn.
Gwent police said there were significant delays both east and westbound on the Prince of Wales Bridge.
Drivers were reportedly doing around 20mph, causing a huge backlog.
A slow-moving roadblock has also started to dirsrupt the M5 between Bridgewater and the Almondsbury Interchange.
A number of motorists are planning to drive north and exit at the M4 Almondsbury Interchange.
A potential mid-morning protest is planned at the Tesco forecourt at Shepton Mallet, and others are cropping up in Leeds and across England.
Drivers are also warned of other nearby roads being affected as commuters seek alternative routes.
Traffic updates are being posted on the Avon and Somerset Police and Gwent Police Twitter accounts.
