At least 8.5 million leisure trips by car are planned for the spring bank holiday weekend, according to the RAC.

Friday (May 4) is expected to be the busiest day, with around 2.9m trips planned for that day. The RAC says that the majority of these are likely to be condensed into the afternoon and into the evening rush hour.

Saturday looks to be the next busiest day with around 2.5m leisure trips scheduled, followed by bank holiday Monday itself with 1.9m.

But the real numbers of cars on the road could turn out to be millions more depending on what the weather has in store.

It looks like many of us will see warmer and more settled conditions for much of the bank holiday weekend, which will tempt many more to jump in the car. Coastal regions, and the major roads that lead to them, are likely to see some of the largest increases in traffic.

RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “While motorists have told us about their firm travel plans as part of our research, if we see things really warm up by the weekend it’s likely to mean millions more cars on the road, which is bound to cause queues on popular routes.

“We urge all drivers to give their cars a quick once over before they set off, especially if they are planning on driving any great distance. Spending just a few moments checking things like the oil and coolant levels, together with tyre pressure and condition, could save hours stuck at the side of the road while everyone else enjoys the long weekend.”