Drivers have been warned to travel TODAY in a bid to avoid an Easter weekend getaway nightmare. It comes ahead of more than 20 million journeys being undertaken by UK motorists this weekend.
As many as 27.6 million journeys are expected. Traffic experts and motoring chiefs have urged drivers to take to the roads today to avoid a gridlock nightmare.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “All our polling suggests that Good Friday will be the busiest getaway day for Easter trips and staycations. If some drivers can leave on Thursday or early Saturday, they may miss some of the jams.”
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Transport minister Robert Courts said his department is “working closely with operators to minimise disruption” during the break, but advised people to “plan ahead and check for updates from operators”. The motoring organisation also estimated that, with higher fuel prices, a 500-mile round trip will see drivers paying £20 more at the pumps than they did last Easter.
Motorists who are stuck in traffic over the weekend risk being caught in the hottest temperatures of the year so far. The mercury could hit 22C.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “As Bank Holidays go it is looking fairly fine and dry across the UK, so I think people will certainly be able to get out and enjoy the countryside or whatever it is they’re doing over the Easter weekend. The weather will be playing ball. All in all, it looks like travel conditions are going to be fairly ok, weather-wise.”
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