Taxi drivers warned of major delays as 14 million vehicles expected this Bank Holiday weekend

UK taxi drivers are being urged to plan ahead as the August bank holiday weekend is forecast to be one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with over 14.4 million cars expected on the roads.

Popular tourist destinations are likely to see significant congestion, and several key routes often used by local and visiting cab drivers are already flagged as hotspots.

Mike Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at Leasing Options, has outlined the key problem areas and possible alternatives, particularly relevant for drivers looking to avoid long delays while working.

A30, Cornwall

“Cornwall is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK, so it’s unsurprising that traffic can become a nightmare. The A30 is notorious for traffic, particularly from Exeter to Land’s End, which runs through key tourist areas like Launceston, Bodmin, and Truro. Chiverton Cross Roundabout is historically a major bottleneck, despite recent upgrades, and Carland Cross to Chiverton has also been upgraded to a dual carriageway, but delays do still occur.”

“To avoid the A30 traffic, consider taking the A38 via Dobwalls as an alternative; the A390 and A39 are also good for bypassing some of the busier sections of the A30.”

A381, Devon

“The A381 is one of the most notorious roads in Devon for its traffic. Links through Teignmouth to Salcombe can be particularly busy with traffic building, due to the road only having single lanes. Newton Abbot town centre also experiences heavy traffic, particularly during key shopping hours or during the weekend.”

“If you want to beat the traffic, try to avoid passing through any of the town centres like Newton Abbot and Totnes to reduce travel times. If you want to head into town while away, make sure to check out any of the public transport options like the bus and trains, which save you having to navigate the roads yourself.”

A591, Lake District

“The Lake District is renowned for its picturesque landscape with its striking mountain face. Tourists travelling through the region will find that the A591, which runs through key tourist towns such as Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere, and Thirlmere, develops traffic build-ups easily. Ambleside and Windermere town centres can also develop traffic easily, especially during peak season.”

“For travellers looking to avoid Lake District traffic, the A590 is a great alternative to the A591 as it doesn’t pass through any specific tourist towns, but it still has views of the striking Lake District scenery.”

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A55, Snowdonia

“Also known as Eryri, Snowdonia is home to the tallest peak in England and Wales, and with 1500 miles of public footpaths, the Welsh national park is expected to receive thousands of visitors.Despite being a holiday staple location, North Wales only has one dual carriageway into Snowdonia. The A55 runs from Chester to Holyhead and experiences particular bottlenecks in Bangor and Conwy.”

“To avoid this type of congestion, the A494 is a scenic alternative which runs through the picturesque towns of Bala and Ruthin; this route bypasses the popular coastal areas which can become congested with caravans and other holidaymakers.”

A1, Northumberland

“Tourism in Northumberland is growing, with over 10.5 million visitors in the last year. However, people don’t just visit Northumberland; the county is a major north-south travel route, which is key to connecting London to Edinburgh. The road has also been subject to ongoing maintenance and resurfacing projects, which have led to lane closures and traffic signals.”

“The A696 and A68 for north-south travel is the easiest way to avoid any congested areas of the A1, particularly during peak tourist season.”