Wales traffic: Delays warning as summer holidays begin
- Published
Heavy traffic is expected to hit the M4 and other major roads on Friday
Drivers in Wales have been warned to brace themselves for heavy traffic as millions across the UK get away for the summer.
RAC research estimates there will be 12.6m holiday trips by car this coming weekend alone.
Its July and August data says roads to north Wales will be busy with about 10% of holiday drivers heading that way.
Traffic monitoring service Inrix warned of longer than normal delays on some routes, including to the west country.
It said there could be jams of up to 45 minutes on Friday on the M5 south between junction 15, near Bristol, and 23, for Bridgwater, Somerset.
Traffic Wales said: "The school summer holidays are in full swing, which means one thing: the roads are about to get a whole lot busier.
"Brace yourselves for increased traffic, longer journeys, and the occasional traffic jam."
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Traffic Wales urged drivers to plan ahead, pack a snack and "take a deep breath".
Safety, it said, was "paramount", adding: "Make sure you're well-rested before long journeys and take regular breaks to stay alert."
A graph posted to Twitter also showed the busiest times on some of Wales' major roads.
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Gwynedd council urged people visiting some of its most popular tourist hotspots to plan ahead and be respectful of the community.
It requested drivers to park responsibly in the county, in which Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, lies.
A spokesman said: "We will be working closely with our partners to monitor parking trends and to take the appropriate enforcement steps against those motorists who park illegally."
Judith Harvey, head warden of Bannau Brycheiniog, also known as the Brecon Beacons, said it was difficult to predict how busy they would be.
"There are many factors including cost of living crisis, very high temperatures in Europe, and I think there is a current trend for people to explore the local area and minimise their carbon footprint," she said.
She reminded tourists not to litter and to dress appropriately in the mountains.
The Met Office also warned there could be travel disruption on Saturday due to a forecast of persistent rain, followed by a risk of thunderstorms on Sunday.
However, no weather warnings were in place as of Friday morning.
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The AA advised motorists to carry out checks such as oil and coolant levels, and tyre pressure, to reduce the likelihood of their car breaking down while being used for a summer holiday.
Nick Powell, AA patrol of the year, said: "Go on a journey of hundreds of miles, with the summer holiday challenges of heat and traffic jams, and hidden faults such as tyre and coolant problems can easily spring up and ruin a holiday."
- Published24 August 2018
- Published19 December 2018
