Brits to face delays this Whitsun weekend

Nearly half of all Britons (49%) are planning to travel over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend and could suffer traffic jams, delays and cancellations, according to research by esure.

esure's annual 'Bank Holiday Exodus' poll reveals that out of the 8.5 million people who braved the chaos during the last Bank Holiday weekend and faced delays, over 1.3 million of them don't plan to travel again this weekend having been put off by the bedlam - opting to stay at home instead. Over a third (34%) plan to enjoy the peace and quiet at home after others have gone away, 15% will be doing DIY around the house, and 13% admitted that they probably won't set foot outside of their front door to avoid getting stuck in any Bank Holiday delays.

esure estimates that of the 15.2 million Brits planning to get away this Bank Holiday weekend:

5.6 million motorists will face delays of on average over 45 minutes

Over 1 million train travellers will suffer delays of around 1 hour 20
minutes

Over 900,000 people travelling by plane will be delayed on average by 2
hours and 10 minutes

Compared to esure's 2006 poll, travellers will suffer longer delays: an extra 5 minutes on average for road delays; an additional 10 minutes for train delays; and a staggering 1 hour more for flight delays.

Known as a nation that loves to queue, two thirds of Brits caught up in delays during the May Day Bank Holiday remain undeterred by the prospect of wasting away their Whitsun weekend snarled up in traffic, standing on station platforms or waiting in airport lounges and refuse to change their plans. However, 64% admit that they will travel at a time when they think it will be quieter - such as driving late at night or setting the alarm clock for an early morning start on the roads - to avoid delays. This could have a significant affect on the peak times for traffic volumes on roads across the UK.

The survey also revealed that many Brits still believe that delays are a traditional element of the Bank Holiday experience. One in twelve (8%) UK adults always expect to be delayed at Bank Holiday weekends but still choose to travel because they see Monday as a free day's holiday - which they don't mind spending a part of either waiting around or queuing.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure, said: "Travel delays are part and parcel of any Bank Holiday Monday but the worst place to be is stuck in a traffic jam where there's no escape. Drivers should make sure that they, their vehicle and their passengers are prepared for the journey.

"Both people and engines' temperatures often rise in traffic jams causing emotional and mechanical breakdowns en route. Drivers should check their vehicle before setting off, fill up with fuel and meticulously plan their routes with plenty of contingencies - taking along water, food, a map and a mobile phone at the very least. Tuning into traffic updates is useful as it gives the option of avoiding traffic hotspots before everything grinds to a standstill."