It is predicted this year will see the busiest Christmas getaway on record
Neil Lancefield, PA and Maxine Denton
06:00, 19 Dec 2025
File photo of traffic on the M5(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
A warning has been issued to motorists driving on the M4 or M5 on Friday as traffic in the run-up to Christmas is expected to peak.
The AA has estimated that about 24.4 million cars will travel on the UK’s roads today (Dec 19).
It predicted this year will see the busiest Christmas getaway on record, continuing an upwards trend since the relaxing of coronavirus travel restrictions.
A survey of more than 10,000 AA members suggested most drivers will stay local on Friday.
Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of respondents said they will embark on a car journey of up to 50 miles.
Only five per cent said they would drive for 51-100 miles, and two per cent plan to exceed 100 miles.
The poll also suggested that visiting family and friends is the main reason for car travel in the festive period, followed by shopping and work.
The AA said the results indicate there will likely be congestion around retail hotspots and motorway interchanges.
Some of the locations believed to be at high-risk for jams include:
- The M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- The M60 near the Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester.
- The M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham.
- The M25 near Heathrow airport, west London.
- The M25 near Bluewater, Kent.
- The M4/M5 interchange near Bristol.
Meanwhile, mapping and location technology company TomTom issued a warning over “severe” traffic on Saturday, when many people will embark on last-minute shopping trips or getaways to loved ones.
Its analysis of the Saturday before Christmas Day last year found Edinburgh was the UK’s most congested city, with journeys taking an average of 50.1 per cent longer compared with free-flowing traffic.
The Scottish capital had a sustained period of jams between noon and 4pm.
London was the second most congested city, with journeys of 10km (6.2 miles) taking more than 40 minutes in the early evening.
Manchester was in third place, followed by Birmingham and Sheffield.
TomTom traffic expert Andy Marchant said: “This year’s super Saturday is set to spark a surge in traffic across the UK, as last-minute shoppers and festive travellers hit the roads.
“Last year, our data showed Edinburgh’s congestion peaking at 76 per cent around midday.
“In London, the evening rush was particularly severe.
“Drivers should expect the busiest periods between midday and early evening, as shopping trips, social plans and the Christmas getaway all converge.
“Our advice is to plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey and keep an eye on real-time traffic updates to avoid the worst of the festive gridlock.”
The RAC forecasts that a total of 37.5 million leisure trips by car are planned between Wednesday and Christmas Eve.
That is the most in the week before Christmas Day since the company began recording the data in 2013.
Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day for leisure trips over the festive period, with 4.2 million of those journeys.
National Highways said it will lift more than 90 per cent of roadworks on its network of motorways and major A roads in England between 6am on Sunday and the early hours of January 2.
A spokesperson for the Government-owned company said: “Some work will still need to continue but our teams will be working around the clock to keep the country moving.”
