Drivers on key routes across the UK could face longer-than-normal delays this coming weekend as the schools break up for summer.

The holiday getaway could exceed pre-pandemic levels with drivers expected to make some 12.6 million getaway trips this coming weekend

New RAC research finds the holiday getaway could exceed pre-pandemic levels with drivers expected to make some 12.6 million getaway trips.

Saturday will be the heaviest day for traffic, with the RAC’s research of more than 2,000 UK drivers indicating as many as 3.1 million separate trips could be taken. That’s around 600,000 more than the next busiest day (Sunday with 2.5 million trips).

But Friday will see up to 2.3 million leisure trips made by drivers, with around 1.6 million planning to get away ahead of the rush on Thursday – both potentially clashing with existing commuter traffic.

And an additional 4.8 million journeys will be taken at some point between Friday and the end of Sunday.

Traffic hotspots include the M5 heading south between J15 near Bristol and J23 for Bridgwater and M25 anticlockwise between J10 for the A3 Kingston and J6 for the A22 East Grinstead – both of which could see extra congestion of up to 45 minutes on Friday.

The M25 is also expected to be particularly busy on Thursday anticlockwise between J4 for Bromley and the Dartford Crossing (35-minute delays) and on Sunday clockwise between J23 for A1(M) Hatfield and J28 for A12 Chelmsford (25-minute delays).

Drivers are advised to avoid using major roads between late morning and early evening between Thursday and Sunday, with the best times to travel on these days generally being before 8am in the morning or after 7pm, according to Inrix.

Separate research by the RAC suggests that July and August will see 26% of the total driving population use their cars to go on holiday in the UK. The West Country is by far the most popular destination with 28% of this group planning on staying in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset or Somerset. The Hampshire, Sussex and Kent coasts are the next most popular (13% of drivers) destinations followed by Scotland (12%) and North Wales (10%).

Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at Inrix, said: “With millions of trips expected on the roads this getaway period, drivers should be prepared for above-average delays to their favourite destinations. Planning ahead, using traffic apps and keeping tuned in to local traffic broadcasts are key to minimising frustrations this getaway period.”