Warning of Easter travel chaos as bank holiday weekend drivers face busiest UK roads in four years

Millions of Britons are expected to hit the motorways as the Easter weekend begins, despite the forecast predicting strong winds from Storm Dave.

Motoring services company RAC have predicted it will be the busiest year on the roads since after the Covid pandemic in 2022.

A survey of more than 13,000 AA members, which took place after the conflict in the Middle East began, has led them to estimate that 21.7 million journeys have been planned for Thursday.

The average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts on Wednesday was 184.2p, up 29 per cent since the war started on 28 February.

Average petrol prices have reached 153.7p per litre, a rise of 16 per cent over the same period.

Drivers are also set to face poor weather conditions from Storm Dave, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning for very strong winds in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of north Wales and northern England.

Forecasters said gusts of 50 to 60mph are expected “fairly widely”, possibly rising to 60 to 70mph in exposed locations and as high as 80 to 90mph in western areas of Scotland.

The public has been warned to expect delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport, with potential cancellations for some services. Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges are likely, with a chance that some roads and bridges could close.

Most drivers are planning to keep their Easter journeys relatively short, according to the AA. Just over half (53 per cent) expect to travel under 50 miles, with 5 per cent planning trips of between 50 and 100 miles.

About 1 per cent expect to travel between 100 and 200 miles, with fewer than 1 per cent planning to clock up more than 200 miles.

Visiting family and friends is the most common Easter road journey purpose, with work and shopping trips also featuring prominently.

Expected congestion hotspots include:

National Highways said it will lift 1,500 miles of roadworks from its network of motorways and major A roads in England between Thursday and Easter Monday to ease journeys.

Rebecca Guy, senior policy manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "With yellow wind warnings now in place across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of northern England this Easter weekend, and heavy rain expected to move in from Friday, anyone travelling should take extra care on the roads.

“The combination of strong winds – which forecasters say could widely reach 50 to 60mph, with even higher gusts in exposed areas – and periods of heavy rain will make driving conditions challenging.

“Millions of people are expected to be on the move over the holiday period, so we’re urging drivers to plan ahead, allow extra time, and be prepared for delays. In wet and windy conditions, it’s vital to slow down, increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front, and keep both hands firmly on the wheel. Heavy rain can greatly reduce visibility and increase stopping distances, while strong crosswinds can make handling more difficult, especially for high‑sided vehicles.”

Drivers embarking on Easter trips to continental Europe are advised to save money by refuelling before they leave the UK.

Analysis of the latest European Commission data by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation found the average price of a litre of petrol in France on 23 March was £1.71, some 25p more than in the UK (£1.46 per litre).

Travel trade organisation Abta estimated that two million people from the UK will travel abroad between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

UK holidaymakers jetting off to the European Union are being warned to expect two-hour delays on arrival as countries are ramping up the deployment of a new border system.

The EU’s entry-exit system involves people from third-party countries, such as the UK, having their fingerprints registered and photographs taken to enter the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly in the EU.

Trade body Airports Council International said the latest data collected from airports across Europe shows a “continued deterioration in waiting times at border crossing points”.