Drivers have been warned that heavy traffic and delays on the M5 southbound are expected from today (Friday, April 28) as the May day bank holiday weekend starts. RAC Breakdown estimates that the double bank holiday weekends will see 32 million separate leisure trips by car, predicting traffic trouble ahead.
The RAC estimates that the May Day bank holiday will see the most cars on the road, predicting it will be the busiest since 2016 with around 17.2m individual trips. The Coronation weekend is estimated to be only slightly less busy with 14.6m journeys being taken.
RAC said traffic-monitoring site Inrix is warning drivers of possible congestion on the M5 southbound between J15 Bristol and J23 Taunton today, with delays of up to 30 minutes predicted. Advice was to leave by 11am - or to leave journeys until later on Friday evening, or earlier on Saturday, to miss the worst of the traffic build-up.
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For the Coronation weekend, RAC has estimated the traffic will be more evenly spread, forecasting around 2m trips each day. Friday afternoon and Saturday will most likely experience the most traffic.
RAC Breakdown spokesman, Rod Dennis, said the weather would not stop travel as people make the most of the double bank holiday and the extra days off. He said: “While we’d expect more short breaks and day trips to the coast this coming weekend, when it comes to the Coronation, it’s likely major routes are less likely to be congested.
“The big variable, as always, is what happens with the Great British weather. If temperatures finally increase and the sun makes more of an appearance, we could well see many people jumping in their cars for a quick trip.”
With regard to travelling by train, there are no strikes expected during the bank holidays. Great Western Rail (GWR) has advised the public to reserve seats to and from London as soon as possible for the Coronation weekend. Thousands of people are expected to travel to London for the coronation ceremony on Saturday, May 6 and the rail service said “we expect train services into London to be extremely busy ahead of the ceremony and away from London after the ceremony”.
Meanwhile, the Met Weather Office has forecast warmer temperatures of up to 21C in some areas for the May Day bank holiday weekend, although rain is forecast. Chris Almond, deputy chief meteorologist said: “By Friday temperatures will have increased so that we will see values around 18 - 21c across parts of UK. The coming bank holiday weekend itself will be a mix of brighter conditions and showers.
“These showers will tend to be heaviest and most frequent in the west on Saturday. On Sunday most locations can expect to see at least some showers whereas on the bank holiday Monday, the focus for showers is more likely to be east with drier conditions elsewhere. Temperatures will be reasonable and above average."
The Met Office said the first half of next week could see some potentially heavy showers due to humid air from the south. The forecast for the Coronation weekend has not yet been confirmed, but updates will be available next week.
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