Major routes across the UK are likely to see congestion this weekend despite the unsettled weather, as drivers make the most of the late May bank holiday and the half-term break.

Routes to popular attractions and coastal areas are likely to see snarl-ups

More than half of UK drivers are expected to hit the roads over the weekend, with coastal destinations and theme parks likely to be very busy.

Sunday 26 May will be the busiest day of the bank holiday, according to a new AA/Yonder survey, with some 19.75 million (59%) of drivers venturing out.

Bank Holiday Monday will be slightly quieter but, with more than 18 million cars on the road, it will be busier than a normal Monday.

Routes to popular attractions including Alton Towers, Legoland, Thorpe Park, and coastal areas including the South West will see extra traffic on them. These will include the M5, M6, M25, A50, A303 and A30.

Football fans are advised to check their routes if they are travelling to either the FA Cup Final (on Saturday) or the Championship play-off on Sunday with routes towards Wembley from the north (including the M1 and M6) and from the south including the M3 expected to be busier than usual.

Major road works already in place along motorways and major A-roads will remain in situ with any speed limits in place set to continue, so drivers are advised to check routes before setting off.

Meanwhile, Bridgestone has issued a road safety plea ahead of the May half term, after its survey of 2,000 drivers highlighted a concerning disconnect between the acknowledged importance of tyre safety and the actual practices of vehicle owners.

In total, 50% of motorists were unaware of the legal tyre tread limit of 1.6mm, while 35% confessed to never thinking about checking their tyres at all. Of those motorists who did admit to checking their tyres, 61% said they do so less than once a month.

Official figures estimate 152 fatalities or serious accidents due to defective tyres in the last 12 months and some 6.1 million illegal tyres on Britain’s roads each year.

Encouragingly, the survey suggested that there is an awareness amongst motorists around the importance of tyre safety, even if best practices and good tyre husbandry isn’t being adhered to by the majority. Some 68% of participants considered safety extremely important when purchasing new tyres, but 59% also said that price and value for money were extremely important factors in their decision making.

Bridgestone’s north region vice president Andrea Manenti said: “These survey results remind us of the need for increased education and awareness about tyre maintenance among British motorists.

“While it’s heartening to see that a significant number of drivers acknowledge the importance of safety when buying new tyres, it’s equally important to ensure they are maintaining their tyres properly to keep themselves and others safe on the road.

“They are the only contact points between the car and the road surface, so a bit of time checking the treads and pressures can be all the difference between stopping safely and encountering a potentially dangerous incident.”