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| 'Frantic Friday' sees millions hit UK's roads for Christmas getaway | |
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| More drivers will take to the road on Friday than any other day over the Christmas season, according to an AA poll. | More drivers will take to the road on Friday than any other day over the Christmas season, according to an AA poll. |
| The combination of the last rush hour before Christmas, last-minute shoppers and online shopping deliveries, as well as millions driving for festive visits to family and friends, is expected to clog roads and slow journeys later in the day. | |
| A recent AA-Populus poll of 18,547 AA members found that 40% expected to drive more than 20 miles on Friday. If those intentions are shared by the wider driving population, that could mean about 13 million drivers taking long trips in a single day. | A recent AA-Populus poll of 18,547 AA members found that 40% expected to drive more than 20 miles on Friday. If those intentions are shared by the wider driving population, that could mean about 13 million drivers taking long trips in a single day. |
| It is one of a number of predictions of heavy traffic, with transportation analysts Inrix warning of jams from Friday afternoon onwards, and the RAC advising motorists to avoid making their festive getaway on what it has labelled “Frantic Friday”. | |
| Results from the AA’s online poll suggest that Northern Ireland will have the busiest roads, with 48% of AA members there saying they would do significant festive mileage. Wales follows with 47% and the north-east is close behind, with 46% of AA members there driving 20 miles or more. London is least likely to suffer from an early Christmas traffic surge, as just over a third (34%) there will cover that distance by car. | |
| Traffic volume was already beginning to increase around Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Colchester, Maidstone and Rochester by early on Friday afternoon, according to the RAC. Simon Williams, traffic spokesman at the drivers’ organisation, said it was expecting about 15% more breakdowns than usual. | Traffic volume was already beginning to increase around Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Colchester, Maidstone and Rochester by early on Friday afternoon, according to the RAC. Simon Williams, traffic spokesman at the drivers’ organisation, said it was expecting about 15% more breakdowns than usual. |
| Inrix has predicted delays on the roads throughout the Christmas holiday, warning of significant delays on Wednesday 27 December as shoppers turn out for the post-Christmas sales and people return from visiting family. Some stretches of motorway could see delays of up to three hours, with particularly high volumes expected around the M25, according to its forecasts. | Inrix has predicted delays on the roads throughout the Christmas holiday, warning of significant delays on Wednesday 27 December as shoppers turn out for the post-Christmas sales and people return from visiting family. Some stretches of motorway could see delays of up to three hours, with particularly high volumes expected around the M25, according to its forecasts. |
| Vince Crane, AA patrol of the year, said: “With Christmas falling on a Monday, many drivers may hope that journeys would be spread across the weekend – but it means more days of traffic as the getaway from work on Friday is followed by the last major shopping opportunity on Saturday and visits to friends and family on Sunday.” | Vince Crane, AA patrol of the year, said: “With Christmas falling on a Monday, many drivers may hope that journeys would be spread across the weekend – but it means more days of traffic as the getaway from work on Friday is followed by the last major shopping opportunity on Saturday and visits to friends and family on Sunday.” |
| He added: “On Friday, it’s likely to be very busy at peak times on the major routes. Check the traffic reports before you leave and try to travel when it’s quieter or, if you have no choice, consider an alternative route to beat the jams. | He added: “On Friday, it’s likely to be very busy at peak times on the major routes. Check the traffic reports before you leave and try to travel when it’s quieter or, if you have no choice, consider an alternative route to beat the jams. |
| “Anything can happen, so don’t forget to do the basic checks on your car before heading off to avoid a breakdown interrupting your Christmas plans. This includes topping up the windscreen wash and anti-freeze, checking your lights and adjusting tyre pressures for a full load if necessary.” | “Anything can happen, so don’t forget to do the basic checks on your car before heading off to avoid a breakdown interrupting your Christmas plans. This includes topping up the windscreen wash and anti-freeze, checking your lights and adjusting tyre pressures for a full load if necessary.” |
| Meanwhile, on the rail network, many mainline routes will be partially shut as Network Rail carries out its biggest Christmas engineering programme. | |
| Great Western Railway is urging passengers to complete journeys by Saturday “at the latest” as London Paddington will be closed between Christmas Eve and 27 December. | Great Western Railway is urging passengers to complete journeys by Saturday “at the latest” as London Paddington will be closed between Christmas Eve and 27 December. |
| The west coast main line will be halted between Preston and Lancaster from Christmas Eve to 27 December, with buses replacing trains. | The west coast main line will be halted between Preston and Lancaster from Christmas Eve to 27 December, with buses replacing trains. |
| Passengers travelling between London and Glasgow are advised to go via Edinburgh, adding around an hour to journeys. | Passengers travelling between London and Glasgow are advised to go via Edinburgh, adding around an hour to journeys. |
| Coach operator National Express is running its largest ever Christmas schedule to meet increased demand from key locations such as Bournemouth, Cardiff, Leeds, Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester. | Coach operator National Express is running its largest ever Christmas schedule to meet increased demand from key locations such as Bournemouth, Cardiff, Leeds, Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester. |
| Airports, ports and international train stations are exceptionally busy, with more than 4.5 million people heading abroad over Christmas and the new year. | Airports, ports and international train stations are exceptionally busy, with more than 4.5 million people heading abroad over Christmas and the new year. |
| The UK’s busiest airport, Heathrow, will welcome almost 130,000 departing passengers on Friday. | The UK’s busiest airport, Heathrow, will welcome almost 130,000 departing passengers on Friday. |