The FINANCIAL — While it may be wet and windy in places, drivers can take consolation that Christmas getaway traffic isn’t expected to be as heavy as normal, says the AA.
The AA’s traffic information partner, Trafficmaster, believes the main getaway will be spread over several days: from friday afternoon (20 December) until Christmas Eve, which should help to ease traffic problems as many take a fortnight break.
Commuter traffic will continue to ease off between now and Christmas Eve. However, local leisure traffic will peak during this period with roads very busy around major shopping centres and large supermarkets. Drivers are advised to leave early to beat the queues and use park and ride facilities where possible.
With many expected to take a fortnight off, traffic will remain light after Christmas, according to Trafficmaster, except around retail outlets as New Year sales get under way. Normal commuter traffic patterns will resume from the main return to work on Monday, 6 January.
On Christmas Eve, unsurprisingly, more men (11%) than women (9%) will be out last-minute Christmas shopping. The roads won’t be completely deserted on Christmas Day with more than a fifth (22%) of respondents likely to cover more than 20 miles by car. On Boxing Day, four times as many will cover at least 20 miles seeing family or friends (21%) than braving the sales (5%), according to Automobile Association Developments Limited.
Almost a quarter (24%) will venture more than 20 miles on New Year’s Eve/Hogmanay with New Year’s Day one of the quietest days (17%). On the former, one-in-ten nationally will drive more than 20 miles seeing family or friends, particularly the Northern Irish (18%) and Scots (12%).
Although it’s the quietest day of the year by far for car breakdowns, AA patrols across the country volunteer to work on Christmas Day to rescue those in trouble.
Last year, they came to the aid of around 3,200 members on Christmas Day; and this year, around 450 patrols and a similar number of call handlers and operational employees will work in shifts on Christmas Day. Further patrols will be on standby ready to forgo Christmas festivities if required, according to Automobile Association Developments Limited.
Patrols who work on Christmas Day are paid a premium rate and their colleagues at the AA’s operational centre at Oldbury, West Midlands, will enjoy a special Christmas buffet.
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