Bank holiday chaos as 20m Britons cram UK roads causing traffic to peak to highest level in nine years
Drivers to expect heavy traffic
PA
Drivers could face a bank holiday Monday meltdown as nearly 20 million people hit the roads after the long weekend.
Experts have warned that as the bank holiday wraps up, more traffic chaos is expected with today set to be the worst day for travel.
The RAC warned that traffic will hit its peak around lunchtime with the M25, M3 to the south coast and the M5 in north Devon set to be affected the most.
This afternoon, however, traffic is expected to affect the A23 from Brighton, the A31 from Dorset and A303 eastbound at Stonehenge.
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The M25 to have worst traffic at lunch time
PASimon Williams, an RAC spokesperson said: “More sunshine will mean a surge of daytrippers, the same day that many people come home from short breaks. It could be a nightmare day to travel.
“As soon as the sunshine comes out and temperatures shoot up, so will the traffic. Aim to finish your journey by 10am, or start after 7pm, if you want to avoid the worst jams.”
The RAC had previously estimated that 19.2 million people would be travelling across the bank holiday, the largest figure since the RAC began recording data for this weekend in 2015.
RAC research also found an overwhelming majority of journeys will be day trips, with 84 per cent of respondents saying they will be using their car for days out.
Just 10 per cent of drivers said they will be setting off on holiday in the UK or abroad and six per cent will be returning home from a staycation or a foreign holiday.
The Port of Dover expected more than 20,000 cars to travel through the harbour over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, urged drivers not to arrive any earlier than two hours before they are set to sail, the same as those planning to fly from an airport.
He stated: "Travellers going through the port this summer may notice the works underway to prepare for the introduction of the EU’s new Entry / Exit system, due to go live in November."
National network manager at National Highways Dale Hipkiss had previously warned that he anticipates the roads will be busier than usual this August Bank Holiday.
To help push traffic along, National Highways also removed more than 500 miles of roadworks to keep people moving along their journeys over the weekend.
He said: “The lifting of roadworks will keep people moving, and some small checks, top-ups and rest as outlined in the TRIP guidance, are all things we encourage drivers to carry out before any long journey – not just during the Bank Holiday.
“Some small checks, top-ups and rest as outlined in our TRIP guidance, are all things we encourage drivers to carry out before a long journey, to help keep them and their passengers safe, whilst avoiding any unnecessary delays or costly repair bills.”
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Drivers have been urged to avoid the M3
PAMusic festivals winding down will also contribute to the roads being busier than usual with the RAC suggesting drivers avoid junction 11 of the M4 eastbound to Reading.
Drivers should also avoid the M3 junction 6 at the Black Dam interchange and the Wendlebury interchange at junction 9 of the M40.