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Motorists are bracing for the busiest early May bank holiday weekend on the roads in a decade, with an estimated 19 million leisure trips expected by car.
The figure, projected by the RAC, is only marginally lower than the record 20 million journeys forecast for the same period in 2016.
A recent survey of 2,218 UK drivers, commissioned by the motoring services company, revealed that 39 per cent intend to embark on a day trip or overnight break over the four-day period.
This surge in travel plans comes despite a significant rise in fuel prices, triggered by the conflict in the Middle East which began on 28 February.
Compared to a year ago, the cost of filling a typical 55-litre family car has increased by £13 for petrol and £27 for diesel.
Saturday is anticipated to be the peak day for leisure traffic, with more than four million journeys predicted.
The RAC warns that the worst congestion will likely occur between 10am and lunchtime on Saturday, singling out the M5 from Bristol to Taunton as a potential blackspot for those heading to Devon and Cornwall.
Friday is also expected to be “hectic”, as about 3.7 million getaway drivers contend with regular commuters for road space.
Some three million leisure trips are planned for both Sunday and Monday, while a further five million people intend to take a trip some time between Friday and Monday but have not decided exactly when.
Among the 61 per cent of UK drivers not planning to make a leisure trip over the long weekend, just 6 per cent said that this was a direct result of the recent increase in the cost of petrol and diesel.
“Even though fuel prices are uncomfortably high, it clearly takes a lot to stop drivers taking to the roads to make the most of a bank holiday weekend,” RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Sean Kimberlin said.
“The fact it’s set to be the busiest early May bank holiday in 10 years shows just how much we depend on our cars to get us wherever we want to go.”
Mr Kimberlin urged drivers planning getaway trips to ensure their vehicles are “up to the task” by carrying out checks on tyre pressure and tread, along with levels of oil, coolant and screen wash.
Meanwhile, Network Rail said the “vast majority” of Britain’s railway network will be open as usual over the long weekend, with “some notable exceptions” because of engineering work.
Liverpool Lime Street station will be closed all day on Sunday and until noon on Monday.
The East Coast Main Line will be shut between York and Darlington for three days from Saturday.
London’s Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will be closed over the same period, with Cannon Street also shut on Sunday.
Other significant engineering works will affect services at the capital’s Euston station, Bath Spa, Huddersfield and Cambridgeshire’s Ely area.
Anit Chandarana, a group director for Network Rail, said: ”There is no right way to do major work on our railway, but bank holidays are still among the least busy times for us in terms of passenger numbers and freight services.
“Those extra days with fewer travellers give us an opportunity to do longer projects that we couldn’t do in a normal two-day weekend or overnight.
“So while most of our railway is open as usual over the bank holidays this May, there are some major exceptions.
“I’d advise everyone to plan ahead and check before they travel.”
The RAC commissioned research company FindOutNow to survey 2,218 UK drivers about their bank holiday travel plans between 22-23 April. It estimated getaway totals by extrapolating the results based on 34.5 million cars being licensed in the UK.
