The RAC has revealed the worst times to travel over the May Bank Holiday weekend, as five million drivers are expected to take to the roads. The weekend is set to be the busiest on the UK’s motorways and A roads for 10 years, with data from the RAC suggesting 19 million leisure trips are expected. This would be slightly lower than the record 20 million trips estimated to have taken place back in 2016.
Worst and Best Times to Drive
With millions hitting the roads between Friday and Monday, the RAC has named the worst and best times to travel over the weekend.
Friday: Frantic Friday
On Friday, the RAC revealed that most of the day is the worst time to travel, with roads set to be at their peak between 11am and 7pm. The best time to hit the road on what they have dubbed ‘Frantic Friday’ is before 10am.
Saturday
On Saturday, drivers should avoid heading off between 10am and 3pm, with the afternoon set to be a much better time to travel. However, the RAC predicts this could be the busiest of the four days, issuing a warning to motorists.
Sunday
A day later, on Sunday, the RAC suggested that the worst time to set off would be between 10am and 3pm.
Monday
With drivers likely heading home from their trips on Monday, the RAC stressed that roads will be busiest between 11am and 6pm. However, travelling after 3pm on Monday could be best as the bulk of the traffic would likely have cleared.
Fuel Prices Not Deterring Drivers
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Sean Kimberlin stressed that rising fuel prices had not put a stop to the demand to get away. He said: "Even though fuel prices are uncomfortably high, it clearly takes a lot to stop drivers taking to the roads to make the most of a Bank Holiday weekend. And the fact our research shows it’s set to be the busiest early May Bank Holiday in 10 years shows just how much we, as a country, love a Bank Holiday – and depend on our cars to get us wherever we want to go."
