Despite the guidance changing in England to allow people to
now drive any distance for outdoor recreation or exercise, the
figures suggest the majority of leisure trips by car will be
local – 23% of drivers responding said they were only planning to
drive up to 10 miles to get to their destinations.
A smaller but not insignificant proportion of drivers are
planning on venturing slightly further afield. One-in-10 (11%)
said they were planning on driving between 11 and 30 miles
specifically to get to a beach – while 6% expect to travel a
similar distance to get to a national park or other beauty spot.
Only 5% of drivers say they expect to drive any further than 30
miles for the purposes of recreation.
Despite the lockdown having been eased in England, guidance
to drivers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is currently
unchanged with everyone asked to continue to ‘stay at home’ and
make essential trips only. This also means that drivers from
England should not be tempted to visit either Wales or Scotland
for leisure journeys – if they do, they face an unwelcome
encounter with a police officer and potentially a fine.
RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “In normal times, the
weather warming up in time for the weekend would spell traffic
jams on routes leading to tourist hotspots. These figures suggest
that’s less likely this weekend, with the vast majority of
drivers we surveyed not jumping at the chance to drive very much
further afield – most are choosing to stay very local indeed or
even not getting in the car in the first place, which bodes well
for control of the coronavirus.
“Those who are planning on venturing longer distances
should be aware that few amenities – including public toilets –
are open, and visits to motorway service areas should be kept as
brief as possible. Tourist boards have also urged people to stay
away from locations that are traditionally popular when the sun
comes out. And as guidance on movement hasn’t changed in either
Scotland or Wales, English drivers should regard the borders to
these countries as effectively closed for leisure trips or
potentially face a fine.
“Our roadside patrols have this week seen a 15% increase in
breakdowns compared to last week, bringing them close to normal
levels. This represents a 40% rise compared to the quietest week
earlier in the lockdown.
“With more drivers potentially being on the roads this
weekend the risk of vehicles breaking down is very real. We’d
urge anyone heading out to make sure their vehicle is up to the
job and fully roadworthy. To ensure vehicles are in good
condition we recommend checking the oil, coolant and tyres before
getting behind the wheel.
“For drivers who do suffer vehicle issues, we’re ready to
assist with our trusted ‘peace of mind’ breakdown cover.”
The RAC is, however, concerned there may be more
‘unroadworthy’ vehicles on the road as a result of the six-month
MOT extension introduced by the Government.
Data obtained by the RAC from the Driver and Vehicle
Standards Agency (DVSA) shows that the number of MOT tests
completed on cars and small vans fell by an enormous 601,528
(78%) between the weeks of 16 March and 13 April 2020, to just
138,035 tests – a fraction of the normal weekly number. This was
a direct result of the lockdown taking effect, with many garages
closed and drivers keeping their vehicles at home. As a result of
the virus outbreak, the DVSA introduced a six-month extension for
MOTs due after 30 March 2020 although drivers can still take
their vehicles in for an MOT during this period.
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Research conducted among UK drivers between
11 and 13 May 2020 on behalf of the RAC. Sample: 1,317 UK
drivers
