Brits taking to the roads for the Easter weekend are warned to take extra care due to high levels of traffic and unpredictable weather conditions.
The Met Office has warned of an Easter weekend washout with rain or showers in most regions and a weather warning for Scotland due to the possibility of snow.
Despite this, Brits are planning at least 18.5 million car journeys over the bank holiday, joining family and friends for the break, according to new research by the AA.
The AA’s research indicates that bank holiday getaway traffic is expected to peak on Easter Saturday (30 March) with at least 18.5 million taking to roads.
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are predicted to be the quietest days but will still see around 16 million cars on the roads with 26% of those intending to drive still undecided about where they’ll be heading.
The AA – event partner to this year’s Great British Fleet Event – has urged drivers to take extra care and pointed out that reducing speed and keeping a safe distance from other vehicles is key to staying safe in wet conditions.
It’s also reminded members to download the free AA app – which is the quickest way to report a breakdown – and to use the What3words app, again free, to identify their location when their car breaks down. The app divides the world into 3 metre squares and gives each one a unique identifier made from three words.
Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of What3words, said: “Thousands of people will be packing their cars this week and travelling across the country to make the most of the long Easter weekend. This surge in traffic can cause chaos on the roads and highlights the importance of being prepared in case of a breakdown. Utilising What3words means the AA and emergency services can pinpoint your exact location if you find yourself in trouble, getting you off the hard shoulder and onto celebrations as quickly as possible.”
