UK: Traffic chaos warning for August Bank Holiday Weekend

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Major traffic warning issued over Bank Holiday travel as hotspots to avoid revealed. The people have been warned of potential traffic chaos over the Bank Holiday weekend as millions of cars take to the roads. There are several major events will be taking place up and down the United Kingdom over the next week.

The railway open for August Bank Holiday rush as Network Rail delivers upgrades to improve passenger journeys. The vast majority of the rail network will be open for business as usual this August Bank Holiday, enabling passengers to go on holiday, attend social events or visit friends and family.

This amber traffic warning has been issued ahead of an estimated 15 million bank holiday trips this weekend. The AA expects 45% of UK drivers to embark on at least one non-commuting journey between Friday and Monday.

The families returning from summer holidays before the start of the new school year will battle for road space with festivalgoers.

Events taking place this weekend range from Reading and Leeds Festivals, CarFest South in Hampshire, the closing weekend of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a full programme of football fixtures and an England v South Africa cricket Test match in Manchester. The traffic is expected to hit a peak on Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

Predicted traffic hotspots include the M4/M5 interchange near Bristol; the M1 between the M25 and Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire; the M6/M42 interchange in Birmingham; and the M62 between Liverpool and Manchester.

AA patrol of the year Sean Sidley said that this year, they are predicting up to 15 million journeys will be made over the August bank holiday, as families make the most of the warm weather and have a last hurrah before the new school year. With events and festivals fully back to normal, localised congestion will peak at closing time around major venues, but the rest of the UK could see peak journeys throughout Saturday.

The traffic is likely to build again from Monday afternoon and into Tuesday, so allow plenty of time if you’re travelling then. The routes to and from coastal resorts and beauty spots will be among the busiest, so drivers should plan ahead for the journey and check your car before you go.

Monday is a bank holiday across the UK except Scotland, and is the final public holiday of the summer.

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