Overview
- The AA forecasts about 24.4 million cars on Friday 19 December and has issued a rare Amber Traffic Warning for the pre-Christmas rush.
- RAC estimates 37.5 million leisure trips between 17 and 24 December, with 4.2 million on Christmas Eve and the worst driving windows expected from 11am to 7pm on Saturday and Christmas Eve.
- Inrix highlights likely severe delays on the M25, M4, M6, M1 and M60, while National Highways says it will remove as many roadworks as safely possible.
- Rail engineering will disrupt key lines after Christmas, including West Coast Main Line sections, Leeds–York and London Waterloo, and the M27 will close between junctions 9 and 11 from the evening of 24 December to 4 January.
- Airports and ports expect record volumes, with the CAA projecting December passengers above last year’s record, Heathrow preparing for over seven million, and the Port of Dover expecting nearly 30,000 outbound cars with morning peak periods.