As British travellers begin the great Christmas getaway, experts warn of road closures and weather difficulties
Drivers have been urged not to travel on major routes for six hours on Saturday to avoid the worst of the Christmas holiday traffic.
The RAC and transport analytics company Inrix said roads are likely to be busiest between 1pm and 7pm, with millions of drivers expected to embark on journeys to their Christmas destinations over the weekend and into the start of next week.
Hotspots where queues are expected include the M3 between its junction with the M25 and the south coast, the M25 anticlockwise between its junctions with the M1 and the M23, and the M53 from Chester to Liverpool.
The AA has issued several amber traffic warnings and said that a record 23.7 million drivers were expected to make journeys on Friday.
There have been severe delays on the M5 in Devon after hay bales on a lorry caught fire on Friday afternoon and had to be dumped along the motorway to prevent the vehicle in turn catching fire.
Drivers faced delays that peaked from an hour to 90 minutes in a five-mile jam with two of the four southbound lanes closed between J30 and J31.
On the M25, a crash has led to lane closure between J16 and J17 in the clockwise direction with congestion and traffic delays that are expected to last until 5pm.
In Suffolk, the A14 eastbound was closed completely just outside Ipswich after a car and lorry collided just before 2pm.
Suffolk Police advised road users to find alternative routes.
Travel experts have offered advice to drivers on dealing with the weekend’s busy roads and challenging weather, recommending leaving extra travel time where possible and carrying an emergency breakdown kit including warm clothes, waterproofs, shoes and a fully charged powerbank to keep phones powered up.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Gusty winds, and heavy showers in the north and west of the UK, are going to make millions of getaway trips by car all the more arduous this weekend.
“We understand it’s nearly Christmas and many people will be eager to get to their destinations, but our advice to drivers is to slow down, leave more space behind the car in front and be wary of the impact sudden strong gusts of wind can have.
“In these challenging conditions, it’s vital to keep both hands on the wheel and watch out for high-sided vehicles that could potentially be blown off course.
“Those whose journeys involve using major bridges should allow extra time in case they are closed for safety reasons. Carrying an emergency breakdown kit in the boot is also important – sturdy shoes, warm clothes, waterproofs and a fully charged mobile powerbank with cable are all must-haves.”
With gale-force winds expected in Scotland on Saturday and Sunday, travellers north of the border have been warned to expect disruption across the transport network.
Douglas Cairns from Transport Scotland said: “Road, rail, air and ferry services are all likely to be affected by the conditions, with longer journey times and cancellations possible, as well as potential restrictions on bridges.
“The network is also expected to be busier than usual, given it’s the last weekend before Christmas.
“As always, we ask travellers to plan their journeys before setting off to ensure they reach their festive celebrations in good time.
“If you’re driving, make sure your vehicle is winter-ready and follow any Police Scotland travel advice that may be in place.”
Rail passengers have been warned that misery will ramp up over the festive period with Britain’s ten worst train companies cancelling almost 800 services a day as travellers face chaos on the rail network over the Christmas holidays.
Additional reporting by agencies