Getaway traffic will start building this Friday before peaking on Saturday. Aslef rail strikes and Heathrow industrial action could also affect journeysDrivers face 'Mayhem' on the roads this bank holiday weekend amid a 'crescendo of cars' as the RAC warned this Saturday will be the busiest day for leisure trips.
Drivers hoping to make the most of the better weather with 20C highs expected - should avoid setting off between 1pm and 7pm on Thursday; 11am and 6pm on Friday; 9am and 2pm on Saturday; and 10am and 3pm on Sunday and Monday. And on Bank Holiday Monday itself, parts of the North West, East Anglia and South West will be hardest hit by returning traffic.
This was followed by 14 per cent who intend to go shopping and 8 per cent who are staying with loved ones for a short break. RAC Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: 'With Covid travel restrictions a thing of the past, catching up with friends and family is still the first priority for nearly half of drivers making leisure trips over the bank holiday.
She continued: 'Industrial action can throw best-laid travel plans into chaos and many commuters who normally rely on the trains instead take to the roads, so our advice is to avoid driving at peak times of day if you can.'Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at Inrix, said: 'Although delays won't be as severe as Easter, drivers should expect the lengthiest hold-ups on major roads to and from popular destinations this weekend.
The union said it has not met employers or the Government for more than a year, accusing ministers of 'giving up' trying to resolve the near two-year dispute. General secretary Mick Whelan said: 'It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.
Mr Whelan said the year-old offer of a 4 per cent pay rise followed by a second 4% increase is 'dead in the water'. 'The Transport Secretary and rail minister have done their part to facilitate this pay offer, – one which would take train drivers' salaries up to an average of £65,000 which is almost twice the average salary in the UK.
The union said the workers, based at Heathrow's terminals two, three, four and five, are taking action in protest at plans to introduce new rosters they claim would see around 250 of them forced out of their jobs at passport control.