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Web traffic increases as more drivers plan holiday journey before setting off
There was six times the normal volume of internet traffic on the Highways Agency website over the busy holiday getaway weekend as more drivers appeared to follow advice to plan their journeys before setting off on holiday.
The Agency, which manages England’s 4,300 miles of motorways and major A roads, reported almost 100,000 visits to the website last Friday (24 July) once all the schools had broken up and families set off for the coast, airport or ferry. This is 605 percent the normal level of web traffic.
Holidaymakers planning their car journey can use the website www.highways.gov.uk to check the live traffic situation and see how the roads are flowing, as well as the view from thousands of motorway cameras.
Highways Agency Director of Information Denise Plumpton said:
“It’s encouraging to see that drivers appear to be taking our advice and are using the journey planning tools the Highways Agency provides. Long car journeys can sometimes be one of the most frustrating experiences, so it makes sense to plan as much as you can before you set off.
“We have more technology than ever before monitoring traffic flows on our roads. By taking advantage of this and tapping into our journey planning resources you can take a lot of the stress out of the start of your holiday.â€
“Once you are en-route we keep the information flowing via overhead message signs, radio broadcasts and you can also check the website from a mobile device whenever you take a break.â€
On the roads the Highways Agency says total traffic volumes for the holiday getaway weekend were about the same as 2008, although there was more traffic around during Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening. The main holiday routes were busy, as expected, with very wet weather adding to the problems.
At the peak getaway, an extra 39,000 vehicles were on the roads, with more than 3,800 per hour heading along the M5 towards the West Country, almost 5,000 leaving London on the M3 and 3,700 per hour travelling up the M6 towards the Lake District for example.
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