Drivers in Rutland urged to prepare for busy roads ahead of Christmas
Millions expected to take short trips as festive traffic builds
Drivers in Rutland are being warned to prepare for crowded roads as millions of vehicles are expected across the UK in the countdown to Christmas.
However, transport experts warn traffic could build up in busy areas during the festive period.
Jonathan Clarkson from the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership said:
"It'll be incredibly busy. There's going to be lots of people on the roads, obviously some making those long journeys going to see families, going to see loved ones while others will be on small trips."
Clarkson also shared advice for drivers preparing for longer journeys, saying:
"If you're going to embark on a journey, make sure you're well rested, we don't want tired, fatigued drivers behind the wheel. Plan your journey in advance, you can check the traffic conditions and work your journey around that."
"Check your tyres - we're talking about tyre pressures and the treads. The minimum tread depth is 2 millimetres. You can use a 20p coin by placing it in a groove and assess the raised edge against the tread; if you see the raised edge, your tyres might be illegal."
Clarkson additionally reminded drivers to make sure their lights are working, they have enough fuel for their trip, and a fully charged phone in case of emergencies. He emphasised: "Your phone can act as a SAT NAV, but it has to be secured in a cradle."
Busiest Christmas getaway expected
This year’s festive getaway is forecast to be one of the busiest ever recorded, continuing a trend of rising car travel since coronavirus restrictions were relaxed. The AA has identified visiting family and friends as the main reasons for local journeys around Christmas, along with shopping and work trips.
Congestion is expected in key areas across the UK, including:
- The M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow
- The M60 near the Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester
- The M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham
- The M25 near Heathrow Airport, west London
- The M25 near Bluewater shopping centre, Kent
- The M4/M5 interchange near Bristol
H2 Severe traffic predicted on "Super Saturday"
Additional travel warnings have been issued for Saturday, which is expected to see severe traffic disruptions as shoppers and festive travellers embark on last-minute trips.
Mapping technology company TomTom revealed that Edinburgh experienced the worst congestion on the same Saturday last year, with journey times increasing by over 50% during midday and early afternoon. London followed as the second most congested city, with drivers in the evening particularly impacted.
TomTom traffic expert Andy Marchant said:
"This year's Super Saturday is set to spark a surge in traffic across the UK, as last-minute shoppers and festive travellers hit the roads."
Christmas Eve to see peak car journeys
The RAC predicts a total of 37.5 million leisure journeys by car between Wednesday and Christmas Eve, making this the busiest week for road travel since records began in 2013. Christmas Eve itself is expected to see 4.2 million trips, the most of any day during the festive period.
National Highways has confirmed it will lift over 90% of roadworks across major A roads and motorways in England, starting from 6am on Sunday until the early hours of 2nd January.
Airports anticipate bumper festive travel
Abta, the travel trade organisation, has estimated over five million Britons will travel abroad between Friday and the 4th January. Popular destinations include mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, Portugal, and Turkey. Holidaymakers are also opting for Christmas market trips to cities like Tallin in Estonia, Gdansk in Poland, Vienna in Austria, and Cologne in Germany.
Airports across the UK are preparing for what could be their busiest Christmas period ever, with holiday companies seeing strong bookings for both winter sun and festive-themed escapes.
At East Midlands Airport, the busiest flight schedule in the run-up to Christmas Day is today, when nearly 5,000 people plan to escape the Brussel sprouts, paper hats and TV re-runs.
And 25,000 people have chosen the ‘Twixmas’ period between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to take part in the festive season’s great escape.
Some aren’t wasting a moment to take a break from the festivities, with just under 3,900 people set to jump on a plane on Boxing Day itself. The busiest day of the Twixmas period, Sunday 28 December, will see 26 departures carrying 4,755 passengers off to a well-deserved break after the efforts and excesses of Christmas. Destinations include Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Malaga and Fuerteventura for fun in the sun, while Riga and Krakow offer magical festive scenes and there’s the option of a peaceful escape or a New Year’s party with plenty of craic in Dublin, Knock or Belfast.
The festive getaways come as figures show a 7.4% increase in passenger numbers last month compared to November last year. That equates to just under 171,000 passengers last month - a year-on-year increase of almost 12,000.
East Midlands Airport customers flying out over the festive period will benefit from improvements that have been completed at the airport, including a new-look security hall with next-generation scanners that make the process quicker and easier, allowing passengers to leave 100ml liquids and electrical items inside cabin bags. Other improvements include extra seating, better wi-fi, upgraded toilet facilities and an expanded and refurbished Escape Lounge. Also a new restaurant, Alembic, opened earlier this year, along with a refurbished Castle Rock Bar and Kitchen and a new and larger JD Sports store.
Customer Services and Planning Director at East Midlands Airport Mike Grimes said:
“There are plenty of people who want to swap their Christmas sofa for an aircraft seat – and we’re absolutely here to make that an easy decision and provide an effortless start to their festive escape.
“Whether it’s some winter sun or festive city breaks they’re after, East Midlands Airport is the best choice if the aim is to take the hassle out of Christmas.”