Bank Holiday Traffic: Tailbacks Warning As 13 MILLION Brits Hit The Road For Weekend Getaway

The great Bank Holiday getaway is underway, with millions of people heading off for a break either in the UK or abroad.

Travel organisation Abta estimates that two million Brits will head abroad between today and Monday, while an estimated 13 million drivers will hit Britain’s roads, according to the AA.

The rush to flee the country will leave Britain’s airports busy, including Heathrow which is expecting more than 440,000 passengers to depart over the last long weekend before Christmas.

Busy - Heathrow is expecting 440,000 passengers to depart over the weekend (Pictures: PA)

Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “This weekend is the traditional curtain closer for the peak summer months and it is always a very busy weekend for travel, with millions taking advantage of the long weekend to head off overseas.

"With the roads predicted to be extremely busy, holidaymakers should make sure that they leave plenty of time to get to their port of departure.”

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As well as breaks out of the UK, national tourism agency VisitEngland said an estimated 5.1 million people will take a break within the UK, generating around £1.3bn for the UK economy.

According to the AA, an estimated 13 million drivers will take to the road for a holiday or an outing between Friday and Monday, with the busiest single day for motorists embarking on leisure journeys expected to be Saturday, when 10 million drivers will get behind the wheel.

Staycation - many Brits will choose to spend the weekend in the UK

Transport information supplier Inrix said some stretches of road could have twice as many vehicles between Friday and Monday compared with a normal weekend. Hotspots to avoid include sections of the M25, M6, M4 and M27.

Highways England announced that almost 98% of England’s motorway and major A roads will be clear of roadworks over the weekend, with some 373 miles of roadworks either completed or suspended ahead of the holiday.

But on Britain’s rail network, nearly 1,000 engineering projects are being carried out, meaning some lines will be closed.

Network Rail’s route managing director, Martin Frobisher, said: “Work takes place 365 days a year as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan but we carry out larger upgrades over bank holidays when there are fewer passengers travelling.”