Credit crunch Christmas keeps Brits at home

It's going to be a quieter Christmas on the roads, predicts the AA. New research shows the roads look set to be quieter than usual over the festive season, with 65 per cent of people questioned saying they will be avoiding travelling and staying at home.

Factors such as the credit crunch and possible icy weather seem to have had an impact upon people's decisions to forego the usual Christmas travel - almost one fifth of people (18%) who travelled over Christmas last year have decided to change their plans and stay at home for Christmas 2008.

11% of people are intending to rack up over 100 miles in order to visit friends and family for their festive celebrations

Londoners keen to get out of the city will be travelling the furthest, with 15% gearing up to travel more than 100 miles over the Christmas period

59% of people would rather stay at home for Christmas than travel to friends or family

55% of people hope to spend less than an hour travelling in the car over the Christmas period

Only 10% of people will be spending over four hours in the car over the

The busiest day for driving will be Monday, 22nd December as people begin to travel to their Christmas destinations

Christmas Day will be the quietest day on the roads, with 85% of people saying they won't be travelling long distances

Many people are set to escape altogether with research from the AA Route Planner revealing Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport as two of the top 10 popular destinations for motorists.

Andy Taylor, AA Patrol of the Year 2008, shares his tips for travelling over the Christmas period: "Despite fewer numbers expected to hit the roads over Christmas, winter weather can still prove hazardous. Punctures increase over the winter months when the roads are wet, as water and grime lubricate foreign objects making it easier for them to penetrate the tyres. Ensure that you pack essentials for an emergency such as warm clothing and blankets, chocolate, water and a hot drink, de-icer, a torch, first aid kit, tow rope, warning triangle, a map in case of unexpected diversions and a fully charged mobile phone. And always remember to check your car battery - flat batteries are the most common cause for AA call outs."

Christmas travel fact sheet:

Top ten destinations over the Christmas period:

1 London (central London, in particular the West End)
2 Manchester
3 Birmingham
4 Leeds
5 NEC
6 Bristol
7 Milton Keynes
8 Nottingham
9 Heathrow Airport
10 Gatwick Airport

Busiest routes:

M1 and A1 Northbound
From London to the North West - M6, M6 Toll
A74M and M74 to Scotland
M23 to Gatwick Airport and the M11 to Stansted Airport
M42 and M5 Southbound towards Wales and the West

In an effort to make Christmas travel as smooth as possible, it is expected that the Highways Agency will lift or suspend many road works across the country over the Christmas period.

The AA has created a set of podcasts featuring experienced AA patrols demonstrating simple car care procedures to help motorists prepare for journeys. Please visit theAApodcasts.com for more details.