Motorists across the country been given an urgent warning by the RAC for this weekend.
Drivers have been urged to leave as early as possible to “disperse” journeys with huge levels of traffic expected as schools break up for the summer holidays.
Places such as the Port of Dover are expected to be filled to the brim as people head to the Channel crossing to either make their way to Paris for the Olympic Games or to the rest of Europe.
Friday is predicted to be the busiest day with an estimated 3.2million drivers taking to the roads to head off on trips. The sheer number of motorists is set to make it the second busiest weekend for traffic since 2015.
A spokesperson for the RAC, Alice Simpson, told the Times: “To avoid a weekend of woe on the roads during one of the busiest of the year, we’d advise as many people as possible to leave as early as they can to try to disperse car journeys over a longer period.”
Motoring expert Bob Pishue added: “Drivers should expect long queues on major roads when heading to and from their destinations during this summer getaway.
“To receive the most up-to-date travel information available, they should monitor news outlets and use the RAC’s route planner to receive live traffic updates.
“Being flexible with your route – whether it’s time you leave or a journey that’s longer in miles with fewer delays – could also reduce the stress of being held up and make for a more enjoyable trip.”
With thousands of people set to enjoy hundreds of road trips at home and abroad this summer, there will be a lot of thought going into how to make their fuel go further.
According to fuel expert Gordon Wallis, the best time for drivers to fill up with diesel or petrol is in the early morning or early evening.
He said: “A common misconception is that filling up your car late in the evening when temperatures are cooler can save money because fuel is denser.
“While small changes in fuel volume due to temperature can affect fuel efficiency, the difference is usually very small and can only save pennies per fill-up, though it can add up over time for careful drivers.
“It’s a good idea to fill up your petrol tank during late evenings or early mornings because fewer people buy fuel, so the prices are lower. Drivers should try to avoid filling up during midday or after 5 pm when most people are done with work as queues can quickly form.”
