The upcoming bank holiday weekend is set to be the busiest in over a decade for drivers, according to the RAC. The motoring organisation says more than 19 million trips are planned between Friday and Monday (May 1-4), with some roads expected to see more traffic than others.
Busiest day revealed
Keen to help drivers, the RAC shared a Facebook video outlining the days when the most car journeys are expected and offering tips for anyone planning a trip. The advice could help travellers plan their journeys so they spend as little time as possible stuck in queues.
In the post, a RAC team member told viewers: "The early May bank holiday is set to be one of the busiest in over a decade, with more than 19 million trips planned on major roads between Friday and Monday, and that's despite the price of fuel still being really high."
While each day is expected to see a rise in traffic, Saturday is forecast to be the busiest day on the roads. "Saturday is going to see the most traffic with over four million leisure trips. But getting around on Friday won't be much easier with 3.7 million journeys. And Sunday and Monday are also going to be busy with three million trips each. So overall, a pretty tough time on the roads," the expert added.
Worst affected routes
According to the RAC, the M5 Southbound is expected to see the most congestion. The expert said: "The heaviest traffic is likely to be on the M5, heading down to Devon and Cornwall." The advice continued: "So the best tip is to get past the RAC tower at the M4/M5 interchange as soon as you can to have the smoothest possible journey."
And even though fuel prices are still really high, not that many people are deciding not to travel over the bank holiday, and only a small percentage are saying they're going to be making shorter trips instead.
Travel tips for motorists
For drivers making trips, the RAC also shared its top travel recommendations to help motorists stay safe on the road. The team member advised: "First of all, check your car, make sure you have enough coolant, oil, and screen wash. Make sure your tyres are in good condition and are pumped up to the right pressures and have plenty of tread. Then it comes to leaving. Make sure you leave as early as you can in the day, because then you've got a good chance of beating the traffic."
Motorists looking for more tips can find further advice on the RAC website, which shares 12 essential maintenance tips that drivers are told to complete before setting off on a road trip.
