The coming half-term break in England and Wales will bring a spike in traffic but could prove quieter than normal as drivers cut back on costs.

Half-term traffic is predicted to peak this coming Friday evening and again Saturday mid-morning

The AA has predicted that traffic will peak Friday evening and again Saturday mid-morning with some drivers heading off for a week’s holiday.

But it added that the number of people travelling at these times are not expected to match previous autumn breaks so should have a marginal impact on journey times.

Its data reveals many parents have decided to cut back on long-distance travel this coming week, opting for more localised days out to parks and popular local attractions as they plan ahead to Christmas and higher bills.

The likely arrival of wet and windy weather throughout next week could also hamper plans and the AA is advising drivers to adjust their driving style accordingly.

Sean Sidley, AA patrol of the year, says: “Half-term travel can be quite hectic, but we are expecting a quieter week as people look to cushion the blow from a string of higher bills whilst planning for a ‘Happy Christmas’.

“Those heading out in their cars could become complacent by not carrying out pre-journey vehicle checks. Spending five minutes checking your car over before setting off can make all the difference between making it to your destination or ending up with an avoidable and expensive repair bill.”