Easter holiday traffic warning – best times to travel as 14million hit roads after schools break up today
Millions of families will be rushing off for the Easter holidays as soon as the bell rings this afternoon
BRITAIN is set for traffic chaos today with 14million cars hitting the roads over the weekend as schools break up.
The Easter getaway is in full swing with families rushing off as soon as the school gates close for a fortnight.
This afternoon is set to be the busiest period of the weekend as 5.3million cars are expected to make leisure trips, according to figures from the RAC.
The rest of the weekend will remain heavy on traffic with 5million and 4million cars travelling on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
But a high concentration of vehicles on the road might not be the only thing causing traffic delays this weekend as bad weather conditions could rear their head again.
Yesterday a 10-car pile up caused by icy road conditions on the A1 left two people in hospital, and heavy snow left roads closed in Wales and the Lake District.
The best times to drive this weekend to avoid traffic
- Friday April 5: before 3pm and after 7pm
- Saturday April 6: before 10am and after 3pm
- Sunday April 7: before 11am and after 3pm
The Easter holidays are set to be unseasonably cool this year with temperatures struggling to reach double figures over the bank holiday - although the current forecast shows highs of 16C this weekend.
Many of Britain's biggest motorways are expected to be blocked up with millions of cars throughout the weekend, including the M1, M3 M4 and M25.
A second wave of heavy traffic is expected to hit the UK over the Easter weekend in a fortnight.
Britain's busiest roads this weekend
- M1 Hertfordshire to Leicestershire
- M25 between Gatwick Airport and M1
- M3 south west of London
- M4 west of London and between Cardiff and Swansea
- A23/M23 to Brighton also A27 and M27 along the south coast
- M4/M5 around Bristol
- M5 from Bristol to Taunton
- A303 Stonehenge
- A30 and A38 Exeter to Cornwall
- M55 between Preston and Blackpool
- M53 between Liverpool and Chester
- A55 North Wales Expressway, Chester to Bangor
RAC traffic spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “With the Easter bank holiday falling so late this year we are expecting to see a double wave of getaway traffic – firstly at the end of this week, and then again two weeks later for the four-day weekend.
“We’re hopeful the weather won’t cause drivers too many issues through this coming weekend, but everyone should be ready for some typical short, sharp April showers, with even the possibility of some snow on higher ground in the north."
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There are currently no train disruptions expected this weekend, but it's safest to check before travelling.
Engineering works are ongoing on the Greater Anglia services between Norwich and Great Yarmouth via Reedham until February and between Ipswich and Felixstowe until Autumn.
Transport for Wales has also reported bus replacement services will be in place until further notice on the line between Llandudno Junction / Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog due to damage caused by last month's adverse weather conditions.
Tips for safe travel this weekend
- Think carefully about when to travel: heading out early in the morning or later in the evening is the best way to skip the queues
- Make sure your vehicle is properly prepared: Check your tyres, oil and coolant levels and the general condition of your car before travelling
- Keep you and your passengers happy: hungry, thirsty or tired passengers can make for a troublesome trip
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