14 Million motorists expected on holiday weekend roads

Saturday is expected to be the busiest ‘getaway’ day of the weekend on the roads, with the RAC’s research of 2,316 UK drivers showing as many as 3.1m separate trips are due to be taken. Friday is forecast to be the next busiest with 2.8m trips planned, followed by Sunday with 2.3m, while the bank holiday Monday is predicted to see 1.9m.

On top of these estimates are another 4.2m trips which will be made at some point over the course of the three-day weekend by drivers who have yet to decide which day to travel.

While the overall number of getaway trips due to be made over the August bank holiday weekend is 1.8m more than last year when fuel prices were at an all-time high, they are not as high as previous years when petrol and diesel were much cheaper.

The most popular destinations for the bank holiday weekend are: Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, followed by the West Country, then Wales and Scotland jointly.

The end of August is likely to see widespread unsettled conditions, bringing showers and sunny spells, as well as occasional strong winds, to many parts of the UK. Eastern areas have a higher likelihood of seeing more frequent showers, some of which may turn heavy or thundery, while western areas are most likely to see some drier spells.

However, this does not preclude the risk of showers in the west as well. Temperatures are expected to be close to normal for many but may be slightly depressed in wetter or windy areas.

“With breakdown numbers already well exceeding previous years, we’re urging drivers to do all they can to avoid finding themselves broken-down at the side of the road by carrying out a few essential vehicle checks before setting off.

“Simply making sure there’s enough oil and coolant can prevent some very expensive and inconvenient breakdowns. Checking tyres have plenty of tread and are inflated to the right pressures is also vital.

“Worn tyres are not only dangerous due reduced grip on the road, they are also more susceptible to punctures and blowouts, and underinflated tyres ruin fuel economy and lead to greater wear.

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