The AA are warning motorists to prepare for long queues and heavy traffic on Friday as they are estimating there will be 16.9 million journeys made on Friday.
The AA are also warning motorists to prepare for a possible 16.6 million journeys on Christmas Eve and congestion on the roads will most likely be increased due to the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) strikes at Network Rail.
Inrix who are at transport analytics company have calculated that they expect journey times to be around 14% longer this year compared to 2021.
Inrix transportation analyst Bob Pishue said, “With pre-pandemic levels of travellers hitting the road this holiday, drivers must be prepared for delays, especially in and around major cities.”
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said, “We’re expecting to see lengthy delays on parts of the M25 today as Christmas getaway and end-of-the-week commuter traffic combine.
“We advise drivers, if possible, to avoid these roads around this time or delay their trips until after 7pm this evening when traffic is predicted to be lighter.
“A single vehicle breakdown also has the potential to add to the queues, so we encourage motorists to complete a few pre-drive checks before setting out – in particular ensuring oil and coolant levels are correct, and tyres have plenty of tread and are properly inflated.”
AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens said, “We are advising those heading out in their cars to be prepared for some congestion, especially on popular routes heading out of London.
“The rail strikes have convinced more people to travel by car this year, and while hundreds of miles of roadworks have been removed to ease the pain, it might not be enough to keep the queues away.”
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