Increased traffic
With the summer school holiday period beginning shortly in England, this is peak season for travel in the UK. Traffic specialist Trafficmaster predicts that next weekend will be the busiest of the year so far, with the majority of English schools breaking up for summer this coming Friday.
Daily commuter traffic is set to decrease while daytime travel will increase, most likely between the hours of 10am and 4pm, and coastal routes, cross-channel ports and the UK’s major airports will become busier.
And with increased traffic comes related problems. Research released today by the AA found that there could be an increased risk of breakdowns as people head off on their summer holdidays, as many car checks are being neglected ahead of long drives.
Increased breakdowns
The AA has also released stats revealing that overheating-related call-outs have jumped more than 50% since last summer.
One of the most common issues reported was with coolants and cooling fans, perhaps due to the bearings wearing down on older models: this can potentially cause the fan to burst into the engine and cause irreparable damage to the car.
Gender difference
Therefore, it is crucial to check your car is ready for whatever summer journeys you are making. Recent research found that there was a significant disparity between what male and females check before setting off on a journey, with men most likely to remember to check car components:
- Fill up with fuel (90% men remember and 90% women)
- Windscreen wash (81% and 75%)
- Tyre pressures (82% and 73%)
- Oil levels (76% and 60%)
- Tyre condition (65% and 52%)
- Lights (50% and 38%)
- Coolant (52% ad 27%)
- Increase tyre pressures (for heavy load) (48% and 33%)
- Adjust headlight aim (19% and 11%)
- Cooling fan (16% and 11%)
Making the necessary checks prior to setting off can prevent spoiling the beginning of your trip away: as Tony Rich from the AA points out, “It’s much better to discover a car problem at home, rather than in the outside lane of a motorway.”
Congestion hotspots
Research has also highlighted which areas of the country will be most congested. According to Trafficmaster, these areas will be:
- A303 From M3 through Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset
- M5 Almondsbury (M4) to Exeter (J31)
- M3/M27/A31 Winchester (J9) to Dorset coast
- M6 Between Junction 11A (M6 Toll), through Staffordshire and Cheshire into Lancashire
- M25 Western Sector Between M1 interchange (Junction 21) and M3 interchange (Junction 12)
Will it improve?
And it doesn't look like the busy roads will subside with the end of summer. It was recently reported by the Daily Telegraph that, according to government predictions, delays on our roads are set to double by 2040. These predictions are based on a growing population (more people being of driving age), coupled with increased prosperity powered by economic growth.
Department for Transport projections indicate that the number of cars on Britain’s roads will increase from 28 million in 2010 to 38 million by 2040.
Prepare for your summer journeys
If you are planning a long distance car journey this summer, read our Summer Driver's Guides for hints and tips on what to do and check before you leave.