Britain's road network is bracing for unprecedented festive congestion, with more than 24 million cars expected to take to the tarmac today in what is forecast to be the busiest Christmas getaway on record.
Local Journeys and Congestion Hotspots
According to a major survey of over 10,000 AA members, the majority of drivers plan to stay close to home. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would drive no more than 50 miles, with just 5% travelling between 51 and 100 miles and a mere 2% embarking on journeys exceeding 100 miles. The primary reasons for travel are visiting family and friends, followed by last-minute shopping and work commitments.
The motoring organisation warns that this pattern will likely cause significant congestion around major retail centres and critical motorway interchanges. Specific locations identified as high-risk for gridlock include:
- The M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- The M60 near the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester.
- The M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham.
Week-Long Rush and Airport Chaos
The traffic surge is part of a rising trend since Covid-19 travel restrictions eased and is set to continue into the start of next week. While Christmas Eve is expected to see a slight dip to 22.7 million car journeys, and Christmas Day to 18.3 million, the overall period remains exceptionally busy.
Satnav giant TomTom has issued a warning for 'severe' traffic, particularly between midday and early evening. Its analysis of last year's data crowned Edinburgh as the UK's most congested city, where journeys took an average of 50% longer. London and Manchester followed in second and third place respectively.
Separately, the RAC forecast that a staggering 37.5 million leisure trips were planned between December 17 and Christmas Eve, the highest number since its records began in 2013. Christmas Eve alone is predicted to see 4.2 million of those journeys.
The chaos extends beyond the roads. UK airports are anticipating their busiest Christmas exodus in history, with travel trade body ABTA estimating more than five million people will travel abroad from the UK between today and January 4. Winter sun destinations like Spain, Portugal, and Turkey are reporting strong sales.
Advice for Drivers
With severe delays anticipated, experts are urging motorists to take precautions. "Drivers should expect the busiest periods between midday and early evening," said TomTom's Andy Marchant. "Our advice is to plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey and keep an eye on real-time traffic updates to avoid the worst of the festive gridlock."
