As the August bank holiday weekend approaches, drivers across the UK are being urged to prepare for significant traffic delays on major routes. The RAC estimates that 17.6 million car trips will be made over the four-day period, with particularly heavy congestion expected in the South East and South West regions.
The RAC advises motorists to embark on their journeys early or brace for extended delays. According to their survey of 2,080 UK adults—extrapolated to reflect the country’s 34 million licensed vehicles—about 3.0 million getaway trips are expected on Friday alone. This number rises to 3.4 million on Saturday, then dips to 2.4 million on Sunday, before climbing again to 2.7 million on Monday. An additional 6.1 million drivers plan leisure trips during the bank holiday timeframe.
Traffic analytics company Inrix highlights the M5 corridor between Bristol and Devon as a hotspot for severe congestion. The stretch from junction 15 (north of Bristol) to junction 23 (Bridgwater) could see delays exceeding 40 minutes on both Friday and Saturday. Similarly, the M20 in Kent—serving drivers heading towards Dover and Folkestone for Channel crossings—is expected to experience hold-ups of over 30 minutes on Friday. Key affected sections include junction 7 near Maidstone to junction 3 (Addington Interchange) and junction 1 at Swanley to junction 5 at Aylesford.
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Nick Mullender, leader of RAC’s mobile servicing and repairs team, notes, “With this bank holiday being the last chance for a long weekend before Christmas, there’s a strong desire from nearly 18 million drivers to get away. Increased traffic heightens the risk of breakdowns, especially if favorable weather entices last-minute trips to popular destinations.”
Mullender emphasizes that routes leading to airports and coastal areas, especially in the south-east and south-west, are likely to bear the brunt of congestion. He advises motorists to plan early departures and be patient in heavy traffic.
Meanwhile, rail travelers face disruptions as Network Rail undertakes 261 engineering projects nationwide over the bank holiday. There will be no long-distance trains between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Sunday, impacting East Coast Main Line services operated by LNER and Lumo. Avanti West Coast will run a reduced and amended schedule to and from London Euston, with services between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International suspended from Saturday through Monday.
Affected Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry trains will be rerouted, causing longer journey times, while London Northwestern Railway will operate only between Birmingham International and some local stations.
Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s chief network operator, explains: “We’ve strategically scheduled works to minimize disruption during this busy weekend while completing essential upgrades for a more reliable rail network. Passengers should check their journeys beforehand to avoid unexpected delays.”
Both drivers and rail passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and anticipate delays during the busy August bank holiday getaway.