This week’s Easter bank holiday getaway could be the busiest since 2022 – the first full break after COVID lockdowns – with more than 19m leisure journeys planned, according to a new study of drivers’ getaway plans by the RAC and traffic analytics specialists INRIX. Research suggests traffic will be equally severe on Thursday, Good Friday and Saturday with … [Read more...]
Road maintenance is dramatically shortening, says RAC
Just 3% of England’s 183,054-mile council-run road network received any form of road maintenance in the last 2023/24 financial year, shows new government data analysed by the RAC. In total, 4,894 miles of all road types were strengthened, resurfaced or preserved in 2023/24, representing an 18% increase or 750 miles in maintenance work compared to the year … [Read more...]
21m journeys expected this weekend
More than 21m leisure journeys are expected to be made by car this weekend as most schools in England finish for the Easter holidays, according to an RAC survey of drivers’ getaway plans. Friday 4 April – the day the Easter term ends for most schools – and Saturday 5 April could spell some of the worst delays for drivers as an estimated 3.4m trips are due … [Read more...]
Newslines 4 March
If you're going to Gatwick next weekend better plan ahead as the M25 will be fully closed. Work between Junctions 10 and 11 near Cobham Services necessitates closure to remove a bridge from Friday to Monday and diversions will be signed but anticipated to be heavily congested and RAC advice is to allow more time, top up fuel or charge. New number plates … [Read more...]
Drivers admit not looking at speedometers
A survey of British road users from private plate supplier Regtransfers saw 1 in 10 drivers admitting they don’t use their speedometer to judge speed on the roads. When asked which method they use most, a majority (86%) said they use the car’s dashboard speedo to ensure they remain within legal speed limits. However, the remaining 14% admitted … [Read more...]
Excessive speeding drivers caught by Police
Almost half of UK police forces (48%) have caught motorists driving over 90mph on 30mph roads – more than three times the speed limit, new data analysed by the RAC reveals. A Freedom of Information request to the UK’s 45 police forces also found that of the 40 with data, almost all (90%) had clocked people driving at 60mph – more than twice the limit – on … [Read more...]
£25 Million spend on Welsh roads & more to come
Welsh Government will begin repairing some 30,000 potholes on 62 miles of motorways and main roads in April, but it's already been criticised as inadequate. The £25 million announced to repair roads across Wales does not represent the longer-term strategy and funding model needed to reinforce the UK's transport infrastructure, according to business group … [Read more...]
Gavin & Stacey’s 5,520 miles trip to true love
As fans prepare to bid a bittersweet farewell to one of the UK’s most beloved sitcoms, the final film-length episode of Gavin & Stacey airing this Christmas promises more than just laughs, tears, and reunions - it’s also a celebration of the miles travelled, memories made, and bridges crossed. With the anticipation building, the team at GAP Insurance … [Read more...]
Peak jams predicted as train services suspended
With Christmas just around the corner, 20 million Brits are preparing to drive ‘home’ for the holidays to friends and family. Amid significant rail disruptions caused by planned closures on major train routes, the roads are set to be busier than ever, so the driving experts at Scrap Car Comparison are urging motorists to plan their journeys well in advance … [Read more...]
Motorists admit diverting onto dangerous roads
More than half of motorists are diverting from motorways to potentially less safe rural roads to avoid traffic jams and congestion, according to IAM RoadSmart. Britain’s leading road safety charity found that over the last twelve months, 51% of drivers have diverted from a congested motorway and headed for a country lane instead. Statistically, rural roads … [Read more...]