New research by RAC Breakdown suggests that UK drivers will make an estimated 19.5 million leisure trips for the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
With an extra-long bank holiday coinciding with the half-term school break, the combination could lead to traffic jams on key routes.
This comes despite many drivers opting to stay closer to home, citing increased fuel costs as a factor to cut journey distances.
The great Friday getaway
Having surveyed almost 1,500 drivers, the RAC believes Bank Holiday Friday (3 June) will be the busiest day of the week on the roads.
An estimated 3.6 million drivers are expected to make trips, with 3.3 million set to do the same on Bank Holiday Thursday.
A further 5 million drivers will make leisure trips at some point during the Bank Holiday weekend, adding to the expected traffic.
Transport experts INRIX have predicted that the M25, M5 southbound, A303, and the A720 Edinburgh city bypass, are the roads likely to attract the most congestion.
Weather and fuel prices dictating choices
However, separate research undertaken by the RAC found that 37 percent of drivers will be keeping things local for the Platinum Jubilee weekend. High fuel prices will be a factor for 11 percent of drivers choosing to stay at home.
In typical British fashion, just over a quarter of drivers (26 percent) said they will only be making a leisure trip in the event of good weather.
RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Drivers clearly see a double bank holiday this close to the summer as a gift with so millions eager to make the most of it – although many appear keen to keep their car journeys short, perhaps mixing a daytrip or two with a Jubilee celebration at home.
“The fact the bank holidays coincide with the end of half-term in many places has the potential to put some extra pressure on the road network, so planning a journey carefully is important to beat the worst of any queues.”
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