UK Expects 19.7 Million Car Trips on Boxing Day

Millions of drivers across the United Kingdom are preparing for heavy traffic on Boxing Day as an estimated 19.7 million car journeys are expected, marking a significant post-Christmas surge primarily driven by family visits and shopping trips.

The Automobile Association, or AA, forecasts this volume for Friday, December 26, with numbers climbing to 22 million on Saturday, December 27. A survey of more than 10,000 AA members revealed that visiting family and friends accounts for the bulk of travel plans over the 11 days ending January 5, cited by 6,063 respondents. Shopping trips followed closely with 4,752 mentions, while work-related journeys totaled 2,729. On Boxing Day specifically, 49 percent of respondents planned trips of up to 50 miles, and 9 percent anticipated longer distances.

Congestion is projected to peak between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., prompting officials to advise motorists to travel outside those hours if possible. The RAC and transport analytics firm Inrix have pinpointed several hotspots, including the M25 clockwise from Junction 7 to 16 and anticlockwise from 17 to 12; the M40 northbound from Junction 8A to 10; the M1 southbound from Junction 16 to 6; and the M6...