At least 300,000 or two in five fans travelling to Glastonbury
and Wimbledon this summer will travel by car, The AA expects. All
will get assistance at the venues if their vehicles threaten to
spoil the occasion. In most cases, festival goers and sports fans
alike will share the journey by travelling with friends rather
than drive separately and meet at their chosen event.
Organising parking and keeping fans' cars mobile will be just
part of the role played by the UK's biggest motoring organisation
over the next three weeks.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury kicks off on 25 June with around 225,000
festival-goers attending the five day event, of which two-thirds
(64%)* will be travelling by car or
motorhome according to a recent AA survey.
For those arriving early, official car parks will be open from
9:00pm on Tuesday 24 June, but attendees should remain
with their vehicles until the festival gates open at 8.00am on
Wednesday 25 June. Drivers will need to display their car parking
pass upon entry.
Routes around the South West including the M4, M5 and A39 will be
busy on Wednesday 25 June as people descend on Worthy Farm and
again on Sunday 29 June and Monday 30 June as revellers head
home.
Like Supergrass, you can keep ‘Movin' by downloading the
AA app to stay updated with
traffic news. However, if you feel like The Script's ‘The Man
Who Can't Be Moved', keep yourself entertained by
‘Pumping on Your Stereo'. Once you're on the move again,
you can reflect on CHIC's ‘Good Times' but when changing
gear, don't put ‘Too Much Pressure' on The Selecter, or
it could result in a call to the AA team.
The AA has supported Glastonbury for around 25 years, with
dedicated on-site teams providing support to people who
experience problems with their vehicles, including lost keys. The AA team also
help festival-goers to find their cars at the end
of the festival.
Those needing assistance during the event are advised to head to
The AA's dedicated compound by the Bronze Gate – Immediate
service is available to non-members wishing to join The AA whilst
attending the festival.
Last year, AA patrols were called out to 154 festival-goers over
four days, with 104 drivers opting to join The AA during the
festival. Due to the strategic planning, including
tried-and-tested radio comms covering the huge site, those
requiring assistance only had an average waiting time of 11
minutes.
Anyone for tennis?
Meanwhile, Wimbledon fortnight starts on Monday 30 June with the
final day's action on Sunday 13th July. Last year a
record 526,455 people attended across the period with more
expected to visit SW19 this year. Of those attending, three in
ten (30%)* spectators say they will travel to the All England
Club by car.
Each year The AA supports the Championships in the organisation
and supervision of the car parks and the park-and-ride facility.
Courtesy roadside assistance is provided to drivers in the
immediate vicinity of the event, irrespective of whether or not
they are AA members. The AA is proud to have supported Wimbledon
for almost 100 years. Information on car parking for Wimbledon
can be found here.
Rob Trevethick, AA Head of Signs, said: We're
immensely proud to be a part of these flagship summer events. The
AA, an iconic organisation in its own right, has supported
Wimbledon for almost 100 years and Glastonbury for around 25
years. Our teams relish the opportunity to play their part and
thrive in the knowledge that they've helped to make these
spectacular summer events memorable for the all right reasons.”
Matt Thomas, AA Patrol Performance Leader and
event stalwart, said: “Whether you're a music or a sports fan,
it's vital that your car is event-ready. Taking extra time to
carry out a few basic vehicle checks can save you a lot of hassle
later on – substituting a live event for radio could lead to
disappointment all-round.
“The UK's biggest breakdown organisation will
have patrols on duty at many live events across the UK but is
urging drivers to carry out essential car checks before setting
off to their chosen venue. Following the AA's simple acronym for
vehicle checks before a trip can help to save stress later on;"
- Fuel
- Lights
- Oil
- Water
- Electrics
- Rubber
The AA App's ‘Compare fuel prices' smart phone function will not
only help fans to locate fuel stops in unfamiliar parts of the
country but direct them to those that will save them money,
allowing more of their money to be spent at the events. This in
tandem with the app's route planning and traffic news updates
should help ease journeys too.
Other events The AA will be supporting this year include:
Hampton Court Garden Festival; The British Grand Prix at
Silverstone; Farnborough International Airshow; Latitude
Festival; Leeds Festival and the British Moto GP.
