The RAC is warning motorists to prepare for possible congestion as millions of families take to the road for the Easter break at the end of this week.

Figures from the RAC suggest some 14 million leisure trips will be taken by car between this Friday (April 5) – the day when most schools finish for Easter – and the end of the weekend.

Friday itself is expected to be busiest with some 5.3m individual getaways planned, in addition to all the usual weekday commuter and commercial traffic. This will be followed by Saturday and Sunday when some 5m and 4m leisure trips will take place respectively.

Drivers should also expect a second substantial wave of congestion for the Easter bank holiday weekend a fortnight later.

RAC traffic spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “With the Easter bank holiday falling so late this year we are expecting to see a double wave of getaway traffic – firstly at the end of this week, and then again two weeks later for the four-day weekend.” 

Travel this weekend