Latest news with #trafficjams
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
It's the Saturday Scramble! 3 million drivers hit Britain's roads on busiest day of summer getaway - with 10,000 cars passing through Port of Dover
Brits trying to embark on the big summer getaway on Saturday will be faced with huge queues and long delays as millions hit the road on the busiest day of the summer. Around 3 million car journeys are expected to take place in a 'Saturday Scramble' and another 2.7m set to be completed on Sunday, according to RAC estimates, with huge traffic jams likely to keep holidaymakers sitting stationary for hours. Traffic is expected to be at its worst in the middle of the day as families flock abroad. Motorists have been warned they should leave before 10am on Saturday or after 7pm on Sunday if they want to avoid painful pile-ups. Around 10,000 cars are expected to travel through the Port of Dover on Saturday as they set off on trips to Calais and Dunkirk - popular routes for those travelling to France or Belgium. The port has already said it is facing 'tourist traffic delays' as it reported processing times of over an hour from 6am, although that reduced to 50 minutes by 9am. It warned travellers to travel via main routes to avoid delays and disrupting nearby residents. Doug Bannister, chief executive at the Port of Dover said his organisation has been 'preparing for a busy summer' and have brought in measures to 'minimise disruption'. He said: 'We know how vital it is to keep things moving, not just for holidaymakers but for our local community too. 'That's why we've boosted staff levels, strengthened traffic management, added welfare facilities and introduced AI-powered forecasting - all to minimise disruption and ensure both residents and travellers have the best possible experience during this busy season.' The Port of Dover added it was expecting nearly 40,000 cars this weekend and more than 270,000 in the next six weeks. Nick Mullender, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said 'Saturday is expected be the single busiest day for summer traffic with many drivers travelling long distances to get to their holiday destination.' A swamped Saturday follows a 'Frantic Friday, where another 2.7m Brits set off abroad, days after the end of the academic year for most English schools. Many families were on the move but there was disruption for those travelling to London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. An area of Heathrow Terminal 3 was cleared on Friday morning while a fire alarm was investigated, which passengers said had caused huge waits for passport control. The alert just after 11am led to the temporary evacuation being carried out by staff for safety reasons, which some travellers complained had led to two-hour queues. Christina Warren, who had just arrived on a Virgin Atlantic flight, tweeted: 'Landed at Heathrow an hour early but there was a fire alarm so the line for passport control is literally backed up literally the entire terminal because of a fire alarm going off.' Meanwhile, in Essex, drivers on the M11 were warned of seven-mile queues after it was blocked in both directions near Stansted after two crashes between junctions eight and nine. Those heading to Gatwick were hit by train chaos after a points failure at Haywards Heath impacted services operated by Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink. Other disrupted rail services included LNER between Retford and Newark after a train hit an obstruction on the track; and the Mildmay line in London due to defective track. Great Western Railway trains between Castle Cary and Westbury were affected by a points failure; while four Hull Trains services were cancelled due to Aslef strike action. The past week has been the busiest period for midweek car trips since records began, with 13.9m journeys taking place between Monday and Thursday, according to the RAC.
Bloomberg
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Germany's Autobahn Cracks After Heat Wave Hits Europe
Germany will carry out emergency repairs on its autobahn this weekend after extreme heat in recent days blew up large chunks of concrete along key stretches of the highway. Temperatures of up to 39C (102F) caused the material to expand and crack open roads in various parts of the country, leading to hours-long traffic jams. With summer breaks beginning in many German states on Friday, repair works over the weekend are set to impact traffic flows further.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Traffic Jams, Lines for Gas Grow as Residents Flee Tehran
Residents of Tehran reported long lines at gas stations and traffic jams as people rushed to flee the city, anticipating more attacks from Israel. Officials told people near locations including refineries to leave if they could and recommended that people seek refuge in metro stations.
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
St. Vital Bridge work resumes, along with traffic jams
Residents and commuters in Winnipeg's south Osborne neighbourhood say they're confused and frustrated by the return of traffic jams, after crews resumed work on the St. Vital Bridge over the Red River.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Britain's worst drivers: Moment motorists leave other road users inches from death as they run red lights, mount pavements and perform dangerous overtakes in shocking dashcam videos
From red light runners at speed to drivers mounting pavements to beat traffic jams, these dashcam videos have revealed Britain's worst motorists. Clips of dangerous overtaking on blind bends and undertaking in heavy traffic also show how drivers are risking lives to save seconds on their journeys. Experts at dash cam firm Nextbase, who compiled the footage, fear impatience is likely to spike in huge traffic jams during the upcoming bank holiday weekend. There is also concern over wet weather creating dangerous conditions as about 20million drivers take to the roads each day between this Friday and next Monday. Many dangerous manoeuvres contravene the Highway Code, such as Rule 36 on not stopping at red lights, which can result in a £100 fine and three penalty points. Rules 162 to 169 relate to dangerous overtaking practices, such as overtaking on blind bends or at junctions; while Rule 268 covers undertaking in moving traffic. Rule 145 bans motorists from driving on the pavement, which can lead to fines of up to £5,000 and nine penalty points; while Rule 144 is driving without due care and attention, which can result in a fine of up to £2,500 and disqualification. Nextbase said it had received dozens of videos of dangerous driving in the first three months of the year, which is 'a small fraction' of the dangerous driving on UK roads. This only includes footage submitted directly to Nextbase, rather than to police via the firm's national dash cam safety portal, or not captured on a dash cam at all. Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, said: 'What we're seeing just ahead of one of the biggest driving weekends of the year is genuinely alarming. 'Drivers across the UK are increasingly treating the Highway Code as an inconvenience rather than a vital set of rules designed to keep everyone safe. 'The footage we've received shows people making split-second decisions that could have catastrophic consequences, all to save what often amounts to just seconds on their journey.' He added that the urge to do something reckless to beat the traffic will be even stronger this weekend with millions of extra cars on the road for leisure trips. Mr Brooker continued: 'We're particularly concerned about the number of videos showing motorists running red lights, overtaking on blind bends, and even driving on pavements. 'These aren't just minor infractions – they're potentially life-threatening behaviours that show a complete disregard for other road users.' Separately, the AA has warned drivers to expect chaos and long delays during the late May bank holiday weekend with 20million cars set to hit the roads each day. It said congestion is likely to be localised around attractions, retail parks, town centres and coastal areas - with half of journeys set to be under 50 miles. The busiest day will be Friday when commuter traffic combines with leisure travel as many families head off to enjoy the May half-term holidays after schools break up. Some 20.6million journeys are anticipated to be made in the UK on Friday, then 19.6million on Saturday and 19.3million on each on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. The AA has issued an 'amber traffic warning' to alert drivers to high congestion on the roads, adding: 'Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination.' Routes heading into the South West of England such as the A303, M5 and A38 are expected to be particularly busy, as well as roads leading to Wales such as the M4. Drivers to Wales were also told to be aware of the current 20mph speed limits in built up areas, while the A52 to Skegness and the M55 to Blackpool could be slow-moving. Congestion is also expected on the M6, M42 and M5 around the Birmingham area, as well any route with a major retail park such as Bluewater in Kent and Lakeside in Essex – which are both near the M25 – and Meadowhall in Sheffield, near the M1.
