29.3 million driving home for Christmas
Motorists have been warned of a getaway gridlock, with more than 29 million people driving home for Christmas in the coming days.
The RAC has warned that 29.3 million separate journeys will take place before the 25th.
It predicts 5.7 million trips this Wednesday and Thursday, before traffic levels ramp up again this weekend when the RAC is predicting a total of 14.3 million car journeys.
More than three million trips are predicted on Friday, and a further 3.7 million on Saturday with 2.9 million on Sunday. A further 4.7 million trips are expected from 20-22 December before 3.8 million travel on the busiest single day, Christmas Eve.
Post Christmas, the RAC is predicting 4.4 million trips on Boxing Day and 3.8 million on Friday, 27 December.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Our research suggests that with Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, many drivers will be squeezing in their getaway trips right up until the big day itself. While the getaway starts to ramp up from Friday, ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ looks particularly challenging as does Christmas Eve. Travelling outside peak hours might be the only way drivers miss the worst of the jams. Planned rail strikes are also likely to add to the misery.
“There’s also no sign of traffic letting up throughout the Christmas period especially as there are major rail engineering works taking place on routes into London and Cheshire. It’s well worth drivers being aware of these and the knock-on effect they’ll have on the roads as the affected lines serve larger areas across the South West, South East and North West.”
