The RAC is predicting the coming weekend will be the busiest May Day bank holiday since 2016, with around 13 million leisure trips expected.
Research of drivers’ plans conducted by the RAC has found that Friday is expected to be the busiest day with around 4.4 million separate leisure journeys by car, 1.5 million more than the same day last year, followed by Saturday (3.4 million; up 900,000 on 2018) and the bank holiday itself (3.1 million; up 1.2 million on 2018).
RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Despite it looking like the weather will take an usually cold turn for the start of May – certainly after the recent Easter heatwave – our figures suggest drivers are still keen to make the most of the long weekend, with significantly more saying they are planning a leisure trip by car this year than in recent years.
“The advice is again to try to use the roads when they are quieter, which primarily means avoiding Friday afternoon and evening if possible, and setting off earlier on Saturday, especially if travelling any great distance.”
Travel this weekend:
| Date | Planned leisure trips by car | Suggested best times to travel on major roads |
| Friday 3 May | 4.4m | Before 4pm and after 7pm |
| Saturday 4 May | 3.4m | Before 10am and after 3pm |
| Sunday 5 May | 2.5m | Before 10am and after 3pm |
| Monday 6 May | 3.1m | Before 12pm and after 4pm |
| Total Friday to Monday | 13.4m |
