Amber Alert: AA Warns of Christmas Getaway Gridlock
|
Amber traffic warning as Friday 19 December set for record
congestion with 24 million cars on the road. Short trips dominate,
creating gridlock near shopping hubs and motorway junctions. “Plan
ahead, check your route, and allow extra time,” advises AA expert
patrol. This Christmas could be the busiest on record for UK roads,
according to a new AA survey of over 10,000 drivers. Friday 19
December is set to lead the charge, with 72%* of respondents
planning to...Request free trial
This Christmas could be the busiest on record for UK roads, according to a new AA survey of over 10,000 drivers. Friday 19 December is set to lead the charge, with 72%* of respondents planning to travel that day – equating to around 24.4 million cars hitting the tarmac, prompting The AA to issue an Amber Traffic Warning for the festive period. The AA is urging motorists to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys, as festive fun, family visits, and last-minute shopping combine to create a seasonal surge. With the sheer volume of journeys forecast nationwide, Britain's roads look set for a yuletide jam that even Santa's sleigh might struggle to dodge. How busy will it be? Traffic is expected to peak on Friday 19 December, with more than 24 million cars predicted on the roads. The weekend and early week are likely to remain extremely busy, driven by last-minute shopping and family visits. Christmas Eve sees a slight drop in journeys, and the big day itself even quieter, but there is still a significant number of people expected to be travelling.
What are people doing? Along with the usual mix of festive activities including parties and visits to Santa, a significant number of respondents will be working on the lead up to Christmas Day. Between 25% and 30% will be travelling to work. Around half (49%) will be shopping and around three in five (59%) will be visiting family or friends, 3% remain undecided.
Shorter Journeys for a Second Year The survey also shows that most drivers are staying local for the second year in a row, with the majority planning trips of less than 50 miles. This trend will likely increase congestion around retail hotspots and motorway interchanges.
Long-haul festive drives appear to be fading fast. Fewer than 5% of respondents expect to travel more than 100 miles on any day in the run-up to Christmas – even less expect to be driving over 200 miles. With the lower distances being driven, expect congestion at these hotspots: M90 Queensferry / Forth Road Bridge (north of Edinburgh) M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow M74 (Glasgow) M60 around the Trafford Centre – Greater Manchester M62 Simister Interchange – Near Manchester M1 around Meadowhall – Sheffield M6 J4-11 (M42–Wolverhampton) – West Midlands M5/M6 interchange – Near Birmingham M42 J3A–J8 (M40 to M6 interchanges) – West Midlands M1 J10–15a (Luton to Northampton) – East Midlands / South Midlands A34 Oxford to Newbury – Oxfordshire to Berkshire M25 around Bluewater – Kent (east of London) M3/M25 interchange – Surrey (southwest of London) M25 around Heathrow Airport – West London M4/M5 interchange – Near Bristol M4 around Cardiff and Newport – South Wales M27 Closure Warning Adding to the challenge, the M27 will close in both directions between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from 8pm on 24 December until 4am on 4 January for major works at Junction 10. This closure affects journeys between Southampton and Portsmouth. A signed diversion via the A27 will be in place, but delays are expected between 10am and 4pm daily. Hampshire County Council advises drivers to:
AA advice for drivers The AA's Roadside teams saw a 15% spike in breakdowns across the weekend before Christmas last year - many avoidable, with issues like worn out tyres and battery / electrical system issues. Here's how to stay moving:
Christmas Day breakdowns Although it's by far the quietest day of the year for car breakdowns, AA patrols across the country will be working on Christmas Day to help keep things moving and to remedy any last-minute naughty Elf mischief. In 2024, they came to the aid of around 2,400 members on Christmas Day. Shaun Jones, AA expert patrol, said: “With more than 24 million cars forecast on the roads on Friday 19 December, it's beginning to look a lot like traffic. Our advice is simple: plan ahead, check your route, and allow extra time. The AA Routeplanner will help you avoid the queues. “We know drivers will be heading out for all sorts of festive fun — from pantomimes and Christmas markets to family visits and scenic walks. But with so many sleighs on the tarmac, patience will be your best present this year. Pack essentials, keep your tank or EV charge topped up, and don't let congestion steal your Christmas sparkle. If you're leaving your car parked over the festive period, start it for a few minutes every couple of days to ensure it's ready for January. “The M27 closure adds an extra twist to the seasonal story, so if you're travelling in Hampshire, think about alternative routes. Our patrols will be out in force to keep Britain moving, but the best way to avoid a Christmas cracker of a breakdown is to prepare before you set off.” ENDS * Yonder received 10,024 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 10th to 19th November 2025 Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Green – No warnings issued. Traffic at expected levels with minimal congestion and incidents. Amber – Warnings issued to prepare drivers for forecast congestion. Red – Warnings issued to alert drivers to live incidents. Compare Breakdown Cover | Black Friday SALE 50% OFF | AA Route Planner | Directions, traffic and maps | AA Vehicle licensing statistics, United Kingdom: 2024 - GOV.UK (table (VEH1103a)) |