British holidaymakers are being warned of travel chaos on UK roads as record numbers of people pack the roads for the peak summer season. This Friday is expected to kick off the busiest time of the year for domestic leisure trips, driven by a combination of heatwaves, concerns over flying, and problems with the entry-exit system at Dover, pushing British domestic holidays to their highest levels since Covid.
14 Million Drivers Expected on Roads
More than 14 million drivers are expected to take to the roads for a summer getaway this weekend, with schools in England and Wales closing for the summer as of Friday. A survey from the AA showed that one in five drivers would be setting off on a leisure journey of 100 miles or more in the next week, making it potentially the biggest domestic getaway since 2022.
According to data from the RAC, 14.1 million drivers will hit the road between Friday 17 July and Sunday 19 July – the second highest number of leisure trips since RAC records began in 2016, surpassed only by 2022 when the country emerged from COVID lockdown.
Dover Faces Long Queues Due to EES Software Problems
The port of Dover is also bracing for long queues as thousands of holidaymakers head to Britain’s main Channel ferry crossing. The new £40 million automated entry-exit system (EES) is still facing troubles, with French border police at Dover forced to manually register non-EU travellers for the system due to software problems. Friday is expected to see 7,500 cars travelling to France via Dover, with that figure increasing to 10,000 on Saturday as the peak summer season begins.
Eurotunnel has also spent millions on automated EES kiosks which cannot yet be used, but the rail operator said it did not anticipate delays for summer traffic travelling via the Channel tunnel.
Worst Traffic Hotspots
The worst of the traffic on Friday is predicted to be around London on parts of the M25 and on the M3, with motorists heading for the southwest. The AA warned drivers: “After a spell of very hot weather across parts of the UK, many families may be tempted to make the most of the summer holidays with trips to the coast, countryside, campsites and other popular staycation destinations. However, with changeable summer conditions also possible, including heavy or thundery downpours, drivers should be prepared for sudden changes on the roads, as rain after hot, dry weather can make surfaces slippery.”
Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, said: “The first major school-holiday week in England and Wales is always one of the busiest times on the roads, and our survey suggests many drivers are preparing for longer journeys as families head away for summer breaks. The warm weather we’ve already seen this summer may encourage more families to make the most of the school holidays, whether that’s heading to the coast, visiting relatives or setting off on a longer UK break.”
Popular Staycation Destinations
Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, along with the Northwest of England, will see the highest number of holidaymakers, with RAC figures showing 9% flocking to these destinations. The Sussex and Kent coasts are also popular destinations (8%), with another 8% going to Scotland, 7% to East Anglia and 6% to Wales.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Harriet Hernando said: “The great British summer staycation is about to get off to a flying start, with many opting to stay in the UK instead of travelling abroad. This could be down to people having more confidence in the weather, as well as concerns over cancelled flights, higher air fares and EU border delays, which are no fun with a family in tow. Household budgets have also been squeezed thanks to high fuel costs caused by the Iran war, meaning many may be opting to spend their summer holidays here rather than battle with the expense of going abroad. Drivers should be ready for the ‘Saturday summer scramble’ and plan their journeys, thinking about setting off earlier or later in the day to avoid traffic jams. People should prepare for delays and getting stuck in a jam in potentially very hot weather.”
