Planning travel home for Christmas? Well, here's a heads-up: if you want to avoid the bumper-to-bumper madness, consider driving home on Christmas Eve. Experts predict that December 22 and 23 will be the peak days for traffic jams this festive season, especially with Christmas falling on a Monday.
For travelling home, New Year's Day, is expected to be the time when the roads are calmest. Though, make sure you're under the drink-driving limit if you have been out partying the night before.
The AA expects a whopping 16.1 million car journeys on December 22 and 16.4 million on December 23. Brace yourself for congestion hotspots like the M25 around London, the M6 around Birmingham, and the M1 north of Luton, along with the M62 and M60 in the North West.
If you're travelling through or into the UK's major cities, make sure to check your vehicle is compliant with the multiple clean air zones.
AA president Edmund King has your back with some advice: pack the essentials—water, snacks, warm clothes, and a hi-vis jacket—in case you get stuck. And before hitting the road, give your vehicle a once-over: check the tyres, fuel, oil, coolant, and screen wash to avoid unexpected breakdowns.
Heads up for train travelers too—rail services will be in a bit of a pickle due to engineering work. Major stations like London Paddington, King's Cross, and Fenchurch Street will face closures or alterations. And if you're flying, airports, especially Heathrow, will be buzzing with activity.
This info comes straight from a survey of over 12,000 AA members conducted by research company Yonder from November 13 to 21. So, plan accordingly and have a smooth holiday journey!
