Drivers are being warned of the risk of delays on routes including the M1 and M25 later this week as record levels of summer travellers hit the roads for the start of the school holidays.

RAC research suggests ‘Frantic Friday’ at the end of this week will be the worst day for the summer getaway

A total of 13.4 million separate summer getaway trips are expected between this Friday and the end of the weekend, the highest number in five years and four million more than in 2018, according to a study by the RAC and INRIX.

RAC research suggests ‘Frantic Friday’ at the end of this week, the day many school terms end, will see some 5.3m separate getaways by car taking place which, when added to the normal daily traffic seen on a Friday, could mean it’s the worst day for congestion. But Saturday also looks busy with five million leisure trips planned, followed by a further 3.4m on Sunday.

Data from INRIX shows the M1 and M25 will likely witness some of the longest jams of up to 90 minutes and 60 minutes respectively, with some further significant queues also forecast towards the end of this week and into the weekend on the M40, M5 and M6.

INRIX transportation analyst Trevor Reed said: “Although travel times are expected to increase throughout the weekend, Friday afternoon will be the worst time to be on the road as commuters mix with holiday travellers.”