With upcoming train strikes set to leave more of us driving home for Christmas this year, analysts have examined road traffic statistics to determine the odds that delays will occur on UK motorways in the lead up to the holiday. 2021 saw almost 18 million cars hit the road as drivers made the commute to see their loved ones in time for the festive celebrations, despite the fact that more than 600,000 Brits were being forced to isolate during this period.
This year, the AA has forecast a slight decrease on this statistic, with 17,845,855 commuters projected to be on the road on both Friday 23 and Saturday 24 December.
Ahead of the big drive home for Christmas, analysts at KingCasinoBonus.uk have examined data on the busiest UK motorways throughout the holiday season to predict where and when Brits are most likely to experience increased delays and journey times on their festive journeys.
The research indicates that traffic is set to increase by 2.94 times in the lead up to Christmas, with the M25 expected to be the busiest motorway in the UK.
Another highly congested route is estimated to be the M60, in which daily traffic across Greater Manchester is likely to rise from 180,501 to around 530,809.
Those travelling through Greater Manchester are also estimated to experience significant delays on the M56, with the 33-mile route receiving 2.88% of the Christmas traffic.
A spokesperson for KingCasinoBonus.uk said: “Drivers commuting across London and Greater Manchester should prepare for increased journey times this Christmas, as more than 17 million Brits are anticipated to hit the road and cause congestion along these typically busy motorways.
“Surrounding London, the M25 is Britain’s busiest motorway on average each year and this will be no different throughout the festive period, as 635,557 cars occupy this widely travelled road. This year’s high numbers can potentially be attributed to the train strikes that are due to go ahead on the 13-14, 16-17 and 24-26 of December, causing mass disruption to journeys across the UK and an increased presence on the roads.
“Although traffic numbers are expected to see a slight decrease on last year’s considerable numbers, congestion is still highly likely across some of the UK’s major motorways. Drivers should be vigilant this year and plan their journeys in advance to get the most enjoyable experience out of the Christmas commute. Taking regular breaks for food and rest are incredibly important to improve awareness on the roads during long journeys, so be prepared to factor in extra time to accommodate these requirements.”
