Easter travel chaos – roads to avoid this weekend

Easter road congestion could hit unprecedented levels according to a leading car insurance comparison website.

Quotezone.co.uk has researched new data from the Department for Transport to pick out the roads to avoid when heading for the Easter bolthole. 

The firm says that the first post-pandemic Easter break is likely to mean more travel misery than usual with the popularity of staycations continuing to rise, hundreds of cancellations and disruptions at ports, airports and railways – with more than 500 engineering rail repairs taking place – plus optimistic weather forecasts for weekend sunshine. 

Quotezone.co.uk has compiled a ranking of the most congested roads in England with the highest waiting times during normal periods of use, something that is only likely to get worse over the next few days.

It says holidaymakers travelling to Eastbourne should note the A2270 racks up delays of 196.5 seconds per vehicle per mile (SPVPM) driven, the worst delays in England.

Those from the Liverpool and Manchester areas hoping to enjoy the cultural delights of Lincoln or York are warned that the A57 – 3^rd highest for delays – and the A59 – 5^th place – have average delays of 91.5 and 69.8 SPVPM respectively in less busy times.    

While the M6 does not feature in the top ten for delays, traffic to the Lake District is likely to surge across the bank holiday weekend so best to choose travel times carefully and check the road status before setting off.

Those thinking of using the M6 Toll could save time as delays are the lowest for the strategic road network, with waits of 1.7 SPVPM. The M54 in Shropshire and M50 in the West Country follow closely with delays of only 3.0 SPVPM or less.

Holidaymakers making their way to London from Portsmouth, Bristol, or Birmingham are likely to have an easier time of it, although the capital’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone will mean many drivers will have to pay an additional £12.50 daily charge within its boundaries.

Anyone thinking of driving within London itself should think again, as 8 of the 10 A roads for delays are in the capital – they all rack up waits of over 270 SPVPM, with the A3207 in Wandsworth hitting an unenviable 341.8 SPVPM.

Greg Wilson, Quotezone.co.uk’s Founder, comments: “Delays can be a stressful part of any road trip, especially during the Easter holidays with younger children in the car.  We wanted to highlight some key areas to avoid this Easter to help reduce the chances of congestion. 

“Easter is an incredibly popular time to travel so it’s sensible for motorists to check their route before setting off, avoid any additional roadworks and make sure the car is roadworthy – checking oil, tyres and battery are in good condition.

“It would also be a wise idea for motorists to check that they have breakdown cover as part of their car insurance policy, not all providers include it as standard but a standalone policy can easily be taken out before they set off.”

Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including niche products such as trailer insurance, caravan insurance and park home insurance.  Recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk.  -ENDS-

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Worst delays for Strategic Road Networks across England

Least delays for SRN by SPVPM

Worst delays for A roads that are not part of the SRN