Drivers are being warned to expect a “frantic Friday” as the summer bank holiday getaway is expected to be the busiest on the roads in more than a decade. The RAC issued the warning as it estimated 20 million leisure trips will be made by car between Friday and Monday August 31.
That is the highest figure since the motoring services company began analysing drivers’ summer bank holiday travel plans in 2015. Monday August 31 is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This upcoming Friday is “likely to be mired in traffic”, the RAC said, with 4.1 million getaway journeys predicted.
Expected congestion hotspots
Some 3.8 million leisure trips are expected on Saturday, 3.1 million on Sunday, and 3.4 million the following day, when day-trippers will compete for space on the roads with people returning from short breaks. A further 5.5 million journeys will be spread across the four-day period, with drivers unsure which exact day they will hit the road.
Transport analytics company Inrix identified a number of likely congestion hotspots, including:
- The M25 anticlockwise from Junction 17 in Hertfordshire to Junction 12 in Surrey, and clockwise from Junction 15 in Buckinghamshire to Junction 19 in Hertfordshire.
- The M5 south from Junction 15 near Bristol to Junction 23 in Somerset.
- The M1 south from Junction 16 in Northamptonshire to Junction 6 in Hertfordshire.
- The M5 north from Junction 11 in Gloucestershire to Junction 1 in the West Midlands.
Impact of fuel prices
The impact on oil prices from the conflict in the Middle East means filling a typical 55-litre family car with petrol costs about £89 compared with £74 a year ago. A tank of diesel is approximately £100, up from £79 in August 2025.
An RAC survey of nearly 3,000 UK drivers indicated that 13% have scrapped their bank holiday travel plans because of higher pump prices. Some 8% said they would still make their journey but save money on other things such as accommodation and eating out.
Advice for drivers
RAC breakdown spokesperson Harriet Hernando said: “With record numbers making a getaway over the bank holiday, it looks like Brits are buoyed by the persistent warm and dry weather and are more confident in making plans for the late summer bank holiday weekend – which is quite often a washout.
“Drivers should be ready for frantic Friday and think about setting off before 10am if they can. If the warm weather continues, people should be prepared in case they get caught in a traffic jam, by carrying plenty of water.”
Breakdown rescue company Green Flag said the number of call outs it received over the summer bank holiday period last year was 13% higher than the previous weekend. It warned that many drivers may be overlooking “basic vehicle checks” before long journeys, such as tyre pressures and levels of oil and coolant.
Rail disruption
Network Rail is carrying out less engineering work than usual for the bank holiday weekend, but thousands of passengers face disruption when the East Coast Main Line is closed between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Sunday for digital signalling work.
Impacts from other major work include no trains between Stafford and Wolverhampton on Sunday, and disruption in the Leeds area between Saturday and Monday August 31.
The RAC commissioned research company FindOutNow to conduct the survey of 2,939 UK drivers on August 17.
