Drivers in the United Kingdom are being advised to prepare for heavy traffic this Friday as the summer bank holiday getaway is set to be the busiest on the roads in more than a decade. The RAC anticipates around 20 million leisure journeys by car will take place between Friday and Monday, August 31, marking the highest level of travel since the organisation began tracking summer bank holiday traffic patterns in 2015.

The upcoming Monday is a public holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which is expected to prompt a surge in travel as people take advantage of the extended weekend. The RAC forecasts that Friday will be the most congested day, with approximately 4.1 million trips planned. This will be followed by 3.8 million journeys on Saturday, 3.1 million on Sunday, and 3.4 million on Monday, when day-trippers are likely to add to returning holidaymakers on the roads.

RAC spokesperson Harriet Hernando urged drivers to anticipate a "frantic Friday" and recommended that if possible, travellers should begin their journeys before 10 a.m. to avoid peak congestion. She also advised motorists to prepare for potentially warm conditions by carrying sufficient water during their trips.

The expected increase in travel volume reflects a strong demand for leisure travel over the bank holiday weekend, underscoring the ongoing recovery in road usage following earlier declines during the pandemic years. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, remain patient, and observe safety precautions amid the predicted heavy traffic.