Easter getaway surge set to test taxi trade as 21m leisure trips planned despite rising fuel costs
- Perry Richardson
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
Taxi drivers across the UK are preparing for one of the busiest Easter periods in recent years, with nearly 21 million leisure journeys over the four-day bank holiday despite mounting pressure from rising fuel costs.
New data from the RAC and traffic analytics firm INRIX indicates this Easter weekend will be the busiest on the roads since 2022, when travel rebounded following Covid lockdown restrictions. More than one million additional trips are expected compared with last year, pointing to sustained consumer appetite for domestic travel.
For taxi and private hire drivers, the figures suggest strong passenger demand, particularly around transport hubs, leisure destinations and city centres. Peak travel is forecast on Good Friday, 3 April, with around 3.3 million journeys expected. High volumes are also anticipated on Thursday 2 April, when schools break up, with 2.3 million trips planned, followed by 3 million on Saturday and a further 3 million on Easter Monday as travellers return.
An additional 6.7 million journeys are expected to take place at unspecified times over the weekend, with weather conditions likely to influence last-minute travel decisions. Any improvement in temperatures could further increase spontaneous demand, creating additional earning opportunities for drivers working extended hours.
Strong demand expected across the bank holiday weekend, with drivers largely undeterred by higher pump prices
Despite rising operating costs, most motorists are not scaling back their plans. Separate RAC research shows 31% of drivers are concerned about fuel prices, which have risen due to ongoing instability in the Middle East. However, only 6% say they will reduce their mileage and a further 6% intend not to drive at all.
The cost pressures remain significant for drivers. Filling a typical diesel vehicle is at least £19 more expensive than during last year’s Easter weekend, while petrol costs are up by nearly £8 per tank, with further increases expected. For taxi operators, particularly owner-drivers, this compresses margins during what would otherwise be a peak revenue period.
Congestion is expected to be severe across key motorway routes, with knock-on implications for journey times, fare calculations and vehicle utilisation. On Thursday afternoon, delays of over 40 minutes are forecast on the M25 clockwise between junctions 15 and 19, while the M4 westbound across the Prince of Wales Bridge could see delays exceeding an hour.
Good Friday is expected to see sustained congestion between 10am and 7pm, with the M5 southbound near Bristol and Bridgwater likely to experience delays of more than 50 minutes. On Saturday, peak congestion between 10am and midday is expected to impact the M40 northbound, where journey times could be almost four times longer than normal.
Return traffic on Easter Monday is also expected to be heavy, particularly on the M5 northbound from Taunton and on sections of the M25, where delays could exceed an hour. For taxi drivers, these conditions are likely to increase journey durations and reduce trip volumes per shift, while potentially boosting metered fares in regulated markets.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Sean Kimberlin said: “The Easter bank holiday getaway is traditionally one of the biggest of the year, and 2026 looks no different. In fact, the number of planned leisure journeys by car has risen for the second year running and as a result we expect this to be the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022, when the country opened up after the Covid lockdown.
“Despite fuel prices rising dramatically due to the conflict in the Middle East, our research suggests Easter remains incredibly important to people as it’s often the first chance to get away since Christmas or to meet up with friends and family. While a significant number of drivers are concerned about rising fuel prices, a much smaller contingent are actually changing their plans this Easter as a result. This is despite the cost of filling up a family diesel car increasing by around £19 compared to this time last year, and a tank of petrol being £8 more expensive. In the face of rising prices, we urge everyone to use the myRAC app to find the cheapest forecourts near them.
“We expect traffic levels to be consistently high from Thursday when many schools break up. We advise drivers to plan for the best time to travel if they want to avoid significant queues, especially in traffic hotspot areas such as the M5 heading towards Devon and Cornwall and the M25. Congestion is likely to be at its worst from 10am from Thursday to Saturday and on Easter Monday, so leaving early in the morning is the best way to avoid the jams.”
