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📅 Traffic Predictions

When to avoid the roads — bank holidays, school breaks & busy weekends

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⚠️ HAPPENING NOW

Early May Bank Holiday

Worst hours: Fri 1pm–7pm, Mon 2pm–7pm · Expect High traffic

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New Year

1 Jan – 2 Jan

Moderate

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⏰ Worst Hours12pm–5pm Jan 1

👥 Expected CrowdsLow–Medium

🚧 Worst Roads

M1 M25 M6 M62 M5

💡 Tip: Roads quiet in the morning as most recover from NYE. Traffic builds from midday as day-trippers head out. M25 and M1 busiest.

🏔️

February Half Term

15 Feb – 23 Feb

Busy

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⏰ Worst HoursFri 2pm–7pm, Sat 9am–1pm

👥 Expected CrowdsMedium

🚧 Worst Roads

M5 M4 M25 M3 M6

💡 Tip: Friday getaway traffic peaks from 2pm. M5 towards Devon/Cornwall heavy. M4 towards Wales busy. Saturday morning surge then quietens.

🐣

Easter Weekend

28 Mar – 21 Apr

Extreme

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⏰ Worst HoursThu 2pm–8pm, Fri 10am–6pm

👥 Expected CrowdsVery High

🚧 Worst Roads

M5 M25 M6 M4 M1 M3 M62

💡 Tip: One of the busiest weekends of the year. Thursday afternoon getaway combined with regular commute is worst. Good Friday gridlock on M5 south, M6 north, M25. Travel before 8am or after 7pm.

🌷

Early May Bank Holiday

3 May – 5 May

Very Busy

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⏰ Worst HoursFri 1pm–7pm, Mon 2pm–7pm

👥 Expected CrowdsHigh

🚧 Worst Roads

M5 M25 M4 M3 M27

💡 Tip: Friday afternoon exodus and Monday return are equally bad. South coast routes (M3, M27) rammed. Avoid M25 J7–J16 on Friday.

☀️

Late May Bank Holiday

24 May – 26 May

Very Busy

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⏰ Worst HoursFri 12pm–7pm, Mon 1pm–6pm

👥 Expected CrowdsHigh

🚧 Worst Roads

M5 M25 M6 M4 M1 M42

💡 Tip: Often coincides with first warm weekend. Coastal and countryside routes hammered. M5 junction 19–23 (Bristol area) notorious bottleneck.

🌴

Summer Holidays Start

19 Jul – 27 Jul

Extreme

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⏰ Worst HoursFri 11am–8pm, Sat 8am–2pm

👥 Expected CrowdsVery High

🚧 Worst Roads

M5 M25 M6 M4 M1 M3 M20 A303

💡 Tip: Schools break up — worst travel day of summer. Airport routes (M25→Heathrow/Gatwick, M56→Manchester) gridlocked. A303 near Stonehenge nightmare. Travel early morning or late evening.

🏖️

August Bank Holiday

23 Aug – 25 Aug

Extreme

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⏰ Worst HoursFri 11am–7pm, Mon 12pm–7pm

👥 Expected CrowdsVery High

🚧 Worst Roads

M5 M25 M6 M4 M1 M62 A303

💡 Tip: Last major summer getaway. Combines with festival traffic (Reading, Leeds, Notting Hill). Monday return journey brutal — leave before 10am or after 7pm.

🍂

October Half Term

25 Oct – 2 Nov

Busy

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⏰ Worst HoursFri 2pm–7pm, Sat 9am–12pm

👥 Expected CrowdsMedium

🚧 Worst Roads

M5 M25 M6 M4 M42

💡 Tip: Moderate but noticeable. Theme park routes busy (M42 for NEC/Alton Towers corridor). Clocks change — watch for dark driving on return.

🎄

Christmas & New Year

20 Dec – 28 Dec

Extreme

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⏰ Worst HoursDec 23 all day, Dec 27 12pm–6pm

👥 Expected CrowdsVery High

🚧 Worst Roads

M1 M6 M25 M62 M5 M4 M40

💡 Tip: Dec 23 (Frantic Friday) is often THE busiest single day on UK roads. Everyone heading home for Christmas simultaneously. Dec 27–28 return traffic heavy. M1 and M6 corridors worst.

🧠 General Tips for Busy Travel Days

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Travel early or late. Before 7am or after 7pm avoids the worst. The 10am–4pm window on getaway days is gridlock territory.

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Check before you go. Use our Route Checker to scan for live incidents along your route.

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Fuel up the night before. Petrol station queues on getaway mornings add 15–20 minutes. Fill up the evening before.

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Have a plan B. Know an alternative route. If the M5 is jammed, can you use A-roads? Check our Live Map.

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Plan service stops. Don't rely on finding somewhere. Check our Services Guide and know where you'll stop.

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Check your car. Tyres, oil, coolant, lights. Breakdowns spike on bank holidays because people skip basic checks.

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📅 Traffic Predictions

🧠 General Tips for Busy Travel Days

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