{"id":641945,"date":"2025-12-19T09:25:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T09:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/641945\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T09:25:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T09:25:13","slug":"m8-at-high-risk-of-traffic-jams-as-festive-journeys-to-peak-with-24m-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/641945\/","title":{"rendered":"M8 at ‘high-risk’ of traffic jams as\u00a0festive journeys to peak with 24m trips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Traffic in the run-up to Christmas is expected to peak on Friday, with the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow at \u201chigh risk\u201d of traffic jams.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The AA, which produced the estimate, predicted this year will see the busiest Christmas getaway on record, with about 24.4 million cars expected on the UK\u2019s roads.<\/p>\n

That continues an upward trend since the relaxation of coronavirus travel restrictions.<\/p>\n

A survey of more than 10,000 AA members suggested most drivers will stay local on Friday.<\/p>\n

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents said they will embark on a car journey of up to 50 miles.<\/p>\n

Only 5% said they would drive for 51-100 miles, and 2% plan to exceed 100 miles.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The AA said the results indicate there will likely be congestion around retail hotspots and motorway interchanges.<\/p>\n

Some of the locations believed to be at high risk for jams include:<\/p>\n

\u2013 The M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The M60 near the Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The M5\/M6 interchange near Birmingham.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The M25 near Heathrow airport, west London.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The M25 near Bluewater, Kent.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The M4\/M5 interchange near Bristol.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, mapping and location technology company TomTom issued a warning over \u201csevere\u201d traffic on Saturday, when many people will embark on last-minute shopping trips or getaways to loved ones.<\/p>\n

Its analysis of the Saturday before Christmas Day last year found Edinburgh was the UK\u2019s most congested city, with journeys taking an average of 50.1% longer compared with free-flowing traffic.<\/p>\n

The Scottish capital had a sustained period of jams between noon and 4pm.<\/p>\n

London was the second most congested city, with journeys of 10km (6.2 miles) taking more than 40 minutes in the early evening.<\/p>\n

Manchester was in third place, followed by Birmingham and Sheffield.<\/p>\n

TomTom traffic expert Andy Marchant said: \u201cThis year\u2019s super Saturday is set to spark a surge in traffic across the UK, as last-minute shoppers and festive travellers hit the roads.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, our data showed Edinburgh\u2019s congestion peaking at 76% around midday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn London, the evening rush was particularly severe.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrivers should expect the busiest periods between midday and early evening, as shopping trips, social plans and the Christmas getaway all converge.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The RAC forecast that a total of 37.5 million leisure trips by car are planned between Wednesday and Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

That is the most in the week before Christmas Day since the company began recording the data in 2013.<\/p>\n

Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day for leisure trips over the festive period, with 4.2 million of those journeys.<\/p>\n

National Highways said it will lift more than 90% of roadworks on its network of motorways and major A roads in England between 6am on Sunday and the early hours of January 2.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Government-owned company said: \u201cSome work will still need to continue but our teams will be working around the clock to keep the country moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

UK airports are also expecting their busiest Christmas getaway in history.<\/p>\n

Travel trade organisation Abta estimated that more than five million people from the UK will travel abroad between Friday and January 4.<\/p>\n

Holiday companies are reporting strong sales for winter sun destinations such as mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, Portugal and Turkey.<\/p>\n

Christmas market breaks in Tallin, Estonia; Gdansk, Poland; Vienna, Austria; and Cologne, Germany are also proving popular.<\/p>\n

STV News is now on WhatsApp<\/p>\n

Get all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n

Follow STV News <\/a>Follow STV News on WhatsApp<\/p>\n

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n

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