Over 14 million to hit the roads Bank Holiday weekend

Over half of all Britons (51 per cent) are planning to travel over this Bank Holiday weekend and could be caught up in the mayhem involving traffic jams, delays and cancellations, according to research by esure car insurance.

esure's annual ‘Bank Holiday Exodus' poll reveals that out of the 7.4 million people who braved the chaos during the last May Day Bank Holiday weekend and faced delays, nearly a fifth of them (1.4 million) don't plan to travel again this weekend having been put off by the bedlam and opting to stay at home instead.

Over a fifth (22 per cent) of those planning to stay at home will be looking to make the most of the extended so-called ‘three day weekend' by getting stuck into doing DIY around the house. However, of those planning to travel this weekend, a trip to the beach is top of the list with over a third (36 per cent) saying they will be heading to the seaside / coast, followed by a third (31 per cent) looking to visit a shopping centre such as Bluewater and Lakeside.

Nevertheless, for those braving the traffic, esure estimates that of the 14.6 million Brits planning to get away this Bank Holiday weekend, nearly 8 million will face delays:

5.6 million motorists will face delays of on average over 45 minutes
Over 1 million train travellers will suffer delays of around 51 minutes
Over 1 million people travelling by plane will be delayed on average by 1 hour and 12 minutes

Known as a nation that loves to queue, Brits caught up in delays during the May Day Bank Holiday remain undeterred by the prospect of wasting away this long weekend snarled up in traffic, standing on station platforms or waiting in airport lounges and refuse to change their plans. 41 per cent admit that they mentally prepare themselves by always thinking that they're going to be delayed, but still travel to make the most of the extended weekend as they see it as a day's free holiday.

How motorists plan to deal with the Bank Holiday traffic chaos:

Over half (53 per cent) plan on using minor roads to avoid using a motorway or A roads.
23 per cent will set their Satellite Navigation System so that it completely avoids the use of motorways.
A quarter (25 per cent) will consider traveling by train to avoid the roads completely.

Furthermore, the research also revealed that 63 per cent 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 effect on the peak times for traffic volumes on roads across the UK.

The research also highlighted that motorists (49 per cent) are thinking twice about whether to travel by car due to high petrol prices.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure, said: "Travel delays are expected over any Bank Holiday weekend but the worst place to be is stuck is 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.

"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."