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RAC Forecasts 14.1 Million UK Leisure Trips July 17-19
The RAC projects the busiest summer getaway in four years as schools close. Inrix predicts delays of up to 80 minutes on key motorways from July 16.
Jul 13, 4:04 AM·1m read1 source
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The RAC projects that 14.1 million drivers will take leisure trips between Friday, July 17, and Sunday, July 19. GB News reported that this total marks the highest number of getaway trips in four years and the second-highest level since records began in 2016.
Only the summer of 2022 exceeded the current forecast, when 18.8 million drivers traveled during the same weekend after pandemic restrictions eased.
The RAC expects 3.8 million drivers to travel on Saturday, July 18, with another 3. Nine percent of drivers plan routes to the South West of England, including Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. An equal share heads to the North West, while eight percent each target Sussex and Kent or Scotland.
Seven percent will travel to East Anglia and six percent to Wales. Inrix forecasts delays of 40 minutes on the M25 clockwise between junctions 15 and 19 from Thursday evening, July 16. The same data projects around 80 minutes of congestion on the M1 southbound between junctions 16 and 6 starting at 10 a.m.
That day. Filling a 55-litre family car now costs £8.90 more for petrol and £12.20 more for diesel than last year. Harriet Hernando, breakdown spokesperson at the RAC, said many drivers are staying in the UK due to weather confidence and concerns over flights and border delays.
Hernando advised motorists to adjust departure times to avoid peak hours and prepare for hot-weather breakdowns including tyre blowouts and overheated engines.
