RAC warns Bank Holiday traffic will be heaviest in nine years

The coming Bank Holiday traffic is expected to be the busiest on UK roads in nine years.

The RAC is expecting about 19.2 million leisure journeys to take place over the four days from 23-26 August.

It says Saturday, 24 August will be the busiest day with 3.7m trips planned. It expects a further 3.2 million journeys on Friday, 3.1 million on Sunday, and three million on Monday.

Additionally, 6.2m trips are planned at some point over the last long summer weekend of the year, with drivers undecided exactly when they’ll travel. The vast majority of trips will be day trips (84%), with transport analytics specialists INRIX warning of delays to last all day on both Friday and Saturday.

Bank Holiday traffic

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said:

“With the end of the school holidays fast approaching it seems day trips will be the main cause of traffic this weekend, so for many drivers it could be a case of ‘day trip delays’. As our data shows, this weekend is likely to be the busiest August Bank Holiday on the roads for nine years, so it’s important everyone ensures their vehicle is in good condition to avoid facing an unwanted breakdown.”