Easter Getaway Warning as Nearly 22 Million Cars Set to Hit UK Roads
Millions of motorists across the United Kingdom are embarking on Easter getaway trips this week, despite the escalating cost of fuel at the pumps reaching unprecedented levels. Motoring services company the RAC has predicted this will be the busiest Easter period on the roads in years, with congestion expected at numerous hotspots nationwide.
Staggering Journey Numbers and Fuel Price Surges
The AA estimated a staggering 21.7 million car journeys were planned for Thursday alone, based on a survey of over 13,000 members conducted between March 13 and 19. This figure predates the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which has significantly impacted oil prices and consequently wholesale fuel costs. The RAC separately forecast that this Easter would see the busiest roads since 2022.
Oil prices have surged dramatically in response to Iran's tightening grip on tankers navigating the crucial Strait of Hormuz, directly influencing fuel costs for consumers. The RAC reported that the average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts on Wednesday reached 184.2p, representing a shocking 29% increase since the war started on February 28. Meanwhile, average petrol prices have climbed to 153.7p per litre, marking a 16% rise over the same period.
Travel Patterns and Congestion Hotspots
According to the AA's research, most drivers are planning to keep their Easter journeys relatively short. Just over half (53%) expect to travel under 50 miles, with 5% planning trips of between 50 and 100 miles. Approximately 1% anticipate traveling between 100 and 200 miles, while fewer than 1% plan to clock up more than 200 miles during the holiday period.
Visiting family and friends remains the most common purpose for Easter road journeys, with work and shopping trips also featuring prominently. Expected congestion hotspots identified by motoring organisations include:
- The M6 through Birmingham and further north towards Blackpool
- The M25 between the M23 and M40
- The M5 in the Bristol area and further into the South West
- The A303 in Wiltshire
- The M4 in South Wales
To ease journeys during this busy period, National Highways announced it will lift 1,500 miles of roadworks from its network of motorways and major A roads in England between Thursday and Easter Monday.
European Travel Warnings and Price Comparisons
Drivers embarking on Easter trips to continental Europe are being advised to save money by refuelling before they leave the UK. Analysis of the latest European Commission data by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation revealed that the average price of a litre of petrol in France on March 23 was £1.71, approximately 25p more than in the UK (£1.46 per litre).
Several other European countries also showed significantly higher prices than the UK, including the Netherlands (203p per litre), Germany (180p per litre), and Belgium (£156p per litre). Diesel prices were similarly higher on the continent, with forecourts in France (183p per litre) and the Netherlands (214p per litre) charging 13p and 44p per litre respectively more than those in the UK (170p per litre).
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, commented: "For those driving on the continent this Easter it is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. If pump prices are high here – and indeed they are – then in many parts of Europe they have gone through the roof, including in France. It might seem counterintuitive, but filling up at Dover rather than in Calais could be the wise option."
International Travel Disruptions and Alternatives
Travel trade organisation Abta estimated that two million people from the UK will travel abroad between Good Friday and Easter Monday. However, UK holidaymakers jetting off to the European Union are being warned to expect two-hour delays on arrival as countries ramp up deployment of the new Entry Exit System border controls.
The EU's Entry Exit System requires people from third-party countries such as the UK to have their fingerprints registered and photographs taken to enter the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly within the EU. Trade body Airports Council International reported that the latest data collected from airports across Europe shows a "continued deterioration in waiting times at border crossing points," with delays regularly reaching up to two hours at peak traffic times and some airports reporting even longer queues.
EasyJet announced it is preparing for its busiest Easter getaway ever, with up to 16,000 flights from UK airports during the two-week school break. Meanwhile, thousands of Easter train journeys will face disruption as Network Rail carries out more than 270 upgrade projects across Britain. This includes a six-day shutdown on the West Coast Main Line starting on Good Friday, meaning no intercity services will run between London Euston and Milton Keynes during this period.
