Christmas getaway 2021 to hit pre-pandemic traffic levels
Traffic over the Christmas period looks likely to reach pre-pandemic levels, causing lengthy jams at hotspots.
Business-based travel will continue at current levels until the last week before Christmas
A survey by the AA of more than 15,000 drivers has revealed 17.75 million cars are expected to travel on 23 December and Christmas Eve.
More than two-fifths (44%) of drivers have already made plans to drive this Christmas, with a further 17% yet to make a decision.
High levels of business travel will continue over the next week. Of those who are driving, almost a third plan to do so for work on Thursday 16 December (31%) and Friday 17 December (28%), after which business-based travel drops until the New Year.
More than a quarter (27%) say they are driving to do their Christmas shopping on Saturday 18 December – the last Saturday before Christmas day.
AA Christmas travel predictions 2021:
| Date | Thu 16 December | Fri 17 December | Sat 18 December | Sun 19 December | Mon 20 December | Tue 21 December | Wed 22 December |
| % Travelling | 52% | 52% | 50% | 42% | 48% | 49% | 50% |
| Est. cars on the road | 17,184,897 | 17,184,897 | 16,523,940 | 13,880,109 | 15,862,982 | 16,193,461 | 16,523,940 |
| Date | Thu 23 December | Fri 24 December | Sat 25 December | Sun 26 December | Mon 27 December | Tue 28 December | Wed 29 December |
| % Travelling | 54% | 54% | 44% | 46% | 43% | 38% | 38% |
| Est. cars on the road | 17,845,855 | 17,845,855 | 14,541,067 | 15,202,024 | 14,210,588 | 12,558,194 | 12,558,194 |
| Date | Thu 30 December | Fri 31 December | Sat 1 January | Sun 2 January | Mon 3 January |
| % Travelling | 38% | 40% | 27% | 29% | 33% |
| Est. cars on the road | 12,558,194 | 13,219,152 | 8,922,927 | 9,583,885 | 10,905,800 |
The high levels of traffic could bring delays to journey times on some stretches of motorway including the M25, the M5 between Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare and the M6 around Birmingham. In addition stretches of the M1 ‘smart’ motorway from Luton northwards can often suffer congestion from incidents or breakdowns, as can the M62 and M60 in the North West. Both the M4 and the M27 are also set to suffer from significant delays.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “It’s a bumper-to-bumper Christmas this year as people want to make up for lost time. Providing there are no formal restrictions in travel or socialising, millions are ready to spend time with their friends and family.
“While the 23 December and Christmas Eve look set to be the busiest travelling days, the change in working practices with increased home working, means we could see a spread of traffic across these days rather than a chaotic evening rush.
“New Year’s Day will be the quietest day on the roads which is probably a good thing especially if drivers have been partying the previous evening. Drivers can still be breathalysed and lose their licence for driving over the limit the morning after. So remember if you are going to drive, don’t drink, and if you are going to drink, don’t drive.”
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
