Storm Dave to cause Easter travel chaos as drivers face busiest UK roads in four years

Millions of Britons are expected to hit the motorways as the Easter weekend begins, despite strong winds expected from Storm Dave.

Motoring services company RAC predicts this will be the busiest year on the roads since the Covid pandemic in 2022.

A survey of more than 13,000 AA members following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East led them to estimate that 21.7 million journeys were planned heading into the Easter weekend.

The average price of a liter of diesel in UK pre-trials on Wednesday was 184.2 pence, up 29 per cent since the war began on February 28.

Average petrol prices increased by 16 percent over the same period, reaching 153.7 pence per liter.

Drivers will also face poor weather conditions due to Storm Dave; The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for very strong winds in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of North Wales and northern England.

Forecasters said winds of 50 to 60 mph were expected to be “fairly widespread”, possibly rising to 60 to 70 mph in open areas and 80 to 90 mph in western parts of Scotland.

The public has been warned that there may be delays in road, rail, air and ferry transport and that some services may be cancelled. Delays are likely for high-sided vehicles on open routes and bridges, and there is also the possibility of some roads and bridges being closed.

According to the AA, most drivers plan to keep their Easter journeys relatively short. Just over half (53 percent) expect to travel under 50 miles, while 5 percent plan to travel between 50 and 100 miles.

About 1 percent expect to travel between 100 and 200 miles, while less than 1 percent plan to travel more than 200 miles.

Visiting family and friends is the most common purpose for an Easter road trip, with business and shopping trips also featured.

Expected congestion points include:

National Highways has said it will remove 1,500 miles of roadworks from its motorway network and major A roads in England between Thursday and Easter Monday to make journeys easier.

Rebecca Guy, senior policy manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “Yellow wind warnings are in place for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and parts of northern England this Easter weekend, and with heavy rain expected to begin from Friday, anyone traveling should take extra care on the roads.

“The combination of strong winds, which forecasters say could reach speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour, and periods of heavy rain with even higher winds in open areas, will make driving conditions difficult.

“Millions of people are expected to be on the move over the holiday period, so we’re urging drivers to plan ahead, allow extra time and be prepared for delays. In wet and windy conditions, it’s vital to slow down, increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front and keep both hands firmly on the steering wheel. Heavy rain can greatly reduce visibility and increase stopping distances, while strong crosswinds can make driving more difficult, especially in high-sided vehicles.”

Motorists embarking on Easter trips to continental Europe are being advised to save money by refueling before leaving the UK.

Analysis of the latest European Commission data by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation found that the average price of a liter of petrol in France on 23 March was £1.71, around 25p more than the price in the UK (£1.46 per litre).

Travel trade organization Abta estimates that two million people from the UK will travel abroad between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

British holidaymakers bound for the European Union are being warned to expect two-hour delays on arrival as countries accelerate the rollout of a new border system.

The EU’s entry-exit system involves people coming from third-party countries such as the United Kingdom to register their fingerprints and have their photographs taken in the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries, primarily the EU.

Trade body Airports Council International said the latest data collected from airports across Europe showed “waiting times at border crossing points continue to deteriorate”.