**Bank Holiday Delays Expected: Motoring Experts Share Guidance for Travellers**
With the late May bank holiday weekend coinciding with the start of the school half-term, motoring organisations are cautioning that drivers should prepare for packed roads and possible significant delays. Latest projections from the RAC, aided by transport intelligence from Inrix, point to an estimated 17.9 million leisure journeys taking place across Britain over the long weekend.
Quite noticeably, nearly 40 per cent of these trips are expected to take place within the first 48 hours—this Friday and Saturday. On both days, an anticipated 3.4 million drivers are set to embark on journeys, creating what analysts are calling a ‘double dose of delays’. Numbers dip a little on Sunday to 2.7 million, but rise again on bank holiday Monday, which marks the official start of half-term in many areas, with 3 million journeys forecasted.
Travellers intending to hit the road are being advised to plan their departure times judiciously. Experts suggest that the most favourable options are either early in the morning before 8am, or later in the evening once the main traffic has dissipated. According to survey data, 68% of drivers plan to set off between 5am and midday, with the busiest window estimated between 8am and 12pm. Only a small minority—around 3%—have indicated they will travel after 7pm, when traffic volumes are likely to be considerably lower.
Heavy traffic is also set to be amplified by a cluster of major events taking place over the weekend, particularly in and around Cardiff and Port Talbot. Notable events include back-to-back rugby finals at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday and Saturday evenings, the multi-day In It Together Festival at Margam, and the Eisteddfod yr Urdd running into the following week. Officials at Traffic Wales warn this could increase M4 traffic near Cardiff by up to 15 per cent, with regular congestion hotspots expected to experience especially long queues.
Popular travel routes are expected to bear the brunt of this getaway. The M4 corridor—particularly from junction 28 to 29, near Newport, and at junction 24 Coldra—remains a well-known pinch point. The A48 towards Carmarthen is another route under scrutiny. The situation could be complicated further by ongoing roadworks, such as resurfacing around the Prince of Wales Bridge expected to close lanes westbound until July.
Further afield, Inrix highlights the M25 as a particular concern, with severe delays predicted on several stretches. On Friday lunchtime, anti-clockwise travel from Junction 4 down to Junction 1 near Dartford could take upwards of 45 minutes longer than usual. By the late afternoon, those heading anti-clockwise between Cobham (J10) and Clacket Lane (J6) could see their journeys extend by another 35 minutes.
Saturday’s main thoroughfares to the south-west—including the A30 towards Okehampton, the M5 southbound to Bridgwater, and the A303 past Stonehenge—are deemed likely bottlenecks. Some sections could experience backups of up to 55 minutes as holidaymakers flood towards the coast.
Experts also highlight the return leg, warning that the rush home on Friday, 30 May, could be just as challenging, with journey times likely to swell by more than a third. All of this underscores the importance of careful planning.
Offering practical guidance, RAC mobile mechanic Aaron Bryan recommends, “Setting off outside of peak hours will be the key to a smoother journey. With so many planning to head out in the morning, early or late departures are your best bet. Also, if warmer weather persists, travelling during cooler periods of the day can ease the load on your vehicle and boost efficiency.”
Mr Bryan also reminded motorists to pay careful attention to vehicle maintenance before departure. “Checking oil and coolant, as well as inspecting tyres for both pressure and tread, are simple yet vital steps. It’s also worth carrying emergency supplies—water, snacks, a tool kit, jump leads and a first aid kit—to help ensure a safer and less stressful trip.”
As the bank holiday approaches, travellers are encouraged to remain flexible, monitor live traffic and event updates, and avoid the most congested windows where possible. Although the prospect of traffic jams can often overshadow the anticipation of a much-needed break, forewarned drivers stand a much better chance of minimising delays and making the most of the weekend ahead.