UK motorists face record August bank holiday travel

The United Kingdom is bracing for a record-breaking August bank holiday weekend, with approximately 20 million leisure car trips forecast. The RAC predicts this will be the busiest holiday period since its tracking began in 2015, specifically highlighting “Frantic Friday” as the heaviest travel day with 4.1 million journeys expected.

Traffic congestion is anticipated on several major motorways. INRIX expects delays of up to 75 minutes on the M5 southbound near Bristol and up to 50 minutes on the M25 anticlockwise. Other significant delays are predicted on the M1 southbound and the M5 northbound on Monday.

Rising fuel costs are impacting travel decisions. A typical 55-litre petrol tank now costs approximately £89, up from £74 a year ago, while a diesel tank costs roughly £100. The RAC reports that 13 per cent of drivers have cancelled their plans due to these higher prices, which are attributed in part to Middle East conflicts affecting oil prices. Experts suggest motorists use fuel-finding services and plan ahead to mitigate costs and congestion.