As Christmas approaches, UK roads are bracing for the busiest travel day of the season, with Friday, December 19, set to see peak traffic congestion. Birmingham’s M5/M6 interchange has been identified as one of the country’s top traffic hotspots amid predictions of widespread jams.
An estimated 24.4 million cars are expected on the roads this year, marking the heaviest Christmas getaway on record, according to the AA. This surge continues a consistent rise in travel since COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
A recent AA survey of over 10,000 members revealed most drivers plan short journeys, with 65% traveling up to 50 miles. Longer trips are less common, with only 5% driving 51 to 100 miles and just 2% exceeding 100 miles. Visiting family and friends remains the primary motivation for travel, followed by shopping and work commitments.
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The AA highlighted potential congestion around key retail hubs and major motorway interchanges, including:
– M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow
– M60 near Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester
– M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham
– M25 near Heathrow Airport, West London
– M25 near Bluewater, Kent
– M4/M5 interchange near Bristol
Adding to the concern, TomTom has issued a “severe” traffic warning for Saturday, December 20, anticipating a spike from last-minute shoppers and festive travelers. Analysis from last year’s pre-Christmas Saturday shows Edinburgh suffered the heaviest congestion, with journey times increasing by 50.1% during peak hours from noon to 4pm. London and Manchester also faced significant delays, followed by Birmingham and Sheffield.
TomTom traffic expert Andy Marchant said, “This year’s super Saturday will bring a surge in traffic as final festive plans bring more cars on the road. Drivers should prepare for the busiest periods between midday and early evening and plan extra time for their journeys.”
The RAC supports this outlook, forecasting 37.5 million leisure car trips between December 21 and Christmas Eve—the highest since data collection began in 2013. Christmas Eve alone is expected to be the busiest travel day of the festive season with 4.2 million planned trips.
UK airports also anticipate their busiest Christmas period ever. Travel trade organization Abta projects over five million UK residents will travel abroad from December 19 through January 4. Popular destinations include sunny spots like mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, Portugal, and Turkey, along with festive Christmas market trips to European cities such as Tallinn, Gdansk, Vienna, and Cologne.
With congestion warnings and travel volumes at historic highs, motorists are urged to plan ahead, stay informed on real-time traffic updates, and allow extra time to navigate this festive season’s busiest travel days.