Drivers are being urged not to use major roads in order to avoid travel chaos as a record number of motorists join the Christmas getaway.
Millions of drivers are set to hit the road this week as schools break up and holidays start.
Travel experts have warned that certain days will see logjams on motorways across the country, and motorists should take extra care.
What will be the busiest days on the roads?
Friday and Saturday are expected to see roads at their most congested this week, with 1pm to 7pm likely to be busiest, according to the RAC and transport analytics company Inrix.
Drivers are being urged not to travel at these times on those days, if possible.
The RAC said it commissioned a survey of 2,100 UK adults, with around three million leisure trips by car planned for Friday, rising to 3.7 million for Saturday.
But traffic is expected to peak on Christmas Eve, with an estimated 3.8 million journeys across the country.
An estimated total of 29.3 million journeys will be made between Wednesday and Christmas Eve, which is the most since the RAC began recording the figures in 2013.
The AA predicted that Friday will see roads at their busiest since it began recording data in 2010, with an estimated 23.7 million drivers planning a trip.
RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Our research suggests that with Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, many drivers will be squeezing in their getaway trips right up until the big day itself.
“While the getaway starts to ramp up from Friday, snarl-up Saturday looks particularly challenging, as does Christmas Eve.
“Travelling outside peak hours might be the only way drivers miss the worst of the jams.”
Where is traffic expected?
Hotspots where queues are expected include the M3 between its junction with the M25 and the south coast.
There is also likely to be traffic on the M25 anticlockwise between its junctions with the M1 and the M23, and the M53 from Chester to Liverpool.
National Highways said more than 95 per cent of roadworks on its network of England’s motorways and major A roads will be lifted from 6am on Friday and will not be reinstated until 2 January.
This includes 45 miles of roadworks on the M1, which were put in place while additional emergency smart motorway stopping areas were installed.
Inrix transportation analyst Bob Pishue said: “With so many people expected to hit the road this holiday season, drivers should expect delays in and around major cities.
“Planning ahead is key to avoiding the country’s worst traffic jams.”
Fears of rail chaos
An RAC poll of 1,074 adults indicted that 53 per cent of people planning Christmas journeys say cars give them more flexibility and convenience.
More than a third (35 per cent) said their journey would take too long via public transport.
Staff shortages, strikes and engineering works are set to cause widespread disruption on trains over Christmas, with some services wiped out entirely.
And 34 per cent said public transport was not a practical option because they were travelling with several people or will have lots of luggage.
Rail engineering work will lead to more pressure on the roads with several lines closed.
London Liverpool Street station will be closed from Christmas Day until January 2, and no trains will call at London Paddington between Friday December 27 and Sunday December 29.
There will be no direct services between Crewe and Liverpool – and a reduced service between Crewe and Manchester – from Saturday December 28 until Friday January 3.
Services in the Cambridge area will be disrupted between Friday December 27 and Sunday January 5, and no trains will run between Harpenden and London from Saturday December 21 to Sunday December 29.
Drivers urged to ‘exercise caution’
National Highways customer service director Andrew Butterfield said busier roads over Christmas and recent storms meant it was crucial for drivers to plan ahead and exercise extra caution.
Drivers should top up fuel, water and oil, rest every two hours, inspect tyres and lights and prepare by planning for severe weather.
