Motorists across the United Kingdom are being warned to exercise caution as the Christmas getaway reaches a new peak, with an estimated 3.1 million additional festive journeys predicted for Monday 22 December 2025.
Traffic Chaos and Travel Disruption
The final working week before Christmas is set to see a complex mix of holiday and commuter traffic. The AA forecasts that around 24 million cars will be on UK roads on Monday, a figure only slightly lower than the peak seen on Friday. While the RAC expects leisure trips to dip on Monday and Tuesday compared to the weekend, drivers embarking on their Christmas break will be directly competing for road space with regular commuters.
This comes after a weekend of significant travel disruption. Passengers faced long queues at the Port of Dover, and rail operator Cross Country was forced to cancel several services, notably between Manchester and Bournemouth on Sunday, citing a shortage of train drivers. The company had warned that services would be busier than usual.
Weather Worsens Driving Conditions
Adding to the travel woes are challenging weather conditions. Sunday, the shortest day of the year, saw mist shrouding parts of the country. The Met Office warns that low pressure will dominate the early part of the week, bringing periods of heavy rain and showers on Monday, particularly across northern England, northern Wales, and parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
As of Sunday, 15 flood warnings were active in England, with dozens more flood alerts in place nationwide. The national weather forecaster advises drivers to find an alternative route if they encounter a flooded road and to consider delaying journeys if heavy rain is forecast until conditions improve.
Expert Advice for Festive Travellers
Roadside assistance experts are urging drivers to prepare thoroughly. Shaun Jones, an AA patrol expert, provided clear guidance for those heading out: "With wet and misty conditions expected, take extra care. Slow down, increase your following distance, and make sure your lights are on — and if visibility drops below 100 metres, switch on your fog lights."
He also emphasised planning, recommending the use of the AA Routeplanner to avoid the worst congestion, and advised drivers to pack essentials and keep fuel tanks or EV batteries topped up. For vehicles left parked over the holiday, he suggested starting the engine for a few minutes every couple of days to ensure reliability in January.
The overall picture suggests a record-breaking festive exodus. RAC figures indicate that a total of 37.5 million leisure trips could be made between Wednesday 17 December and Christmas Eve, which would be the highest number in the week before Christmas since the company began recording this data in 2013.
While Christmas Eve is predicted to be the single busiest day for getaway journeys with 4.2 million trips forecast, the absence of commuters may mean roads are less congested overall. A further 4.2 million journeys are also planned between Monday and Christmas Eve for last-minute shopping and visits.
