Drivers warned to 'stay off roads' for 48 hours from Friday evening
The RAC has issued a bank holiday traffic warning as one million extra drivers are expected to hit the road this weekend. The motoring services company has revealed that the May Day weekend is still set to produce more traffic than 2024, with over 17 million getaway trips by car planned, up from one million last year.
Today, Friday 2 May, is expected to see the largest volume of leisure travellers on major roads, with 3 million journeys expected to be made. The quietest day of the weekend to travel is expected to be Sunday, 4th May, with just 2.4 million trips scheduled - meaning drivers should stay off the roads for 48 hours from today.
While being caught in gridlock is often unavoidable, there are steps you can take to prevent you from being too held up, according to Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing.
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He said: "The RAC suggests the worst of the traffic is predicted to fall later in the afternoon and into Friday evening, so if you can, try to avoid those peak times. But if you can't, and you're going to be rushing to a given location, do your homework in advance. Google Maps is your friend here.
"If Plan A is going to take you on a motorway that's always crowded, is there an alternative Plan B, and even a Plan C? It might be a more scenic route that's longer, but ultimately less congested. If you've already got some options in your head, you can always make a diversion if the cars in front start to slow to a crawl."
He went on, saying: "You don't want to add to the congestion yourself, so make sure your car is in good working order before you set off in order to swerve an avoidable breakdown.
"It sounds obvious, but check you've got enough fuel, or enough charge if you're driving an EV, and make sure you've got plenty in reserve should the worst happen, and you do end up sitting in traffic with the engine on.
"Check fluid levels of screen wash, coolant, engine oil and make sure your tyres have enough tread.
"If you're unsure about conducting these checks independently, several places provide a complimentary check, such as Halfords, Kwik Fit, and ProTyre. These checks typically cover five to ten crucial points, ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy."
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