Motor agencies warn of ‘pre-Christmas panic’ and record traffic as millions set to make holiday journeys
Millions of drivers will start their holiday journeys from today, with motor agencies warning of a “pre-Christmas panic” on the roads and record levels of traffic.
Data from the RAC and travel analytics company INRIX estimates 29.3 million journeys will be made by motorists in the run-up to Christmas Day. About half of these – at 14.3 million – are set to be made over the weekend.
After some 5.7 million journeys on Wednesday and Thursday, the RAC said today will be “frantic Friday” on the roads with an expected 3 million trips.
In a bid “to help make journeys smoother”, National Highways customer service director Andrew Butterfield said the agency will remove roadworks on 95% of the roads they manage.
Meanwhile, the AA has issued several amber traffic warnings and says a record 23.7 million drivers are expected to make journeys today.
Data from an AA survey has claimed most drivers are staying local and travelling less than 50 miles over the holidays, but that Friday will still be the busiest day of Christmas driving since their records began in 2010.
The next busiest days are expected to be 21 and 23 December, with 22.7 million drivers on the roads.
The AA says a record 23.7 million drivers will be on the roads today. File pic: PA
Friday afternoon worst time to drive
According to INRIX data, traffic jams are set to strike on many of England’s motorways, with delays of more than 45 minutes likely in the evening on the M3 in Surrey and Hampshire between the M25 in west London and the south coast, and on the M25 anticlockwise from the junction with the M1 near Watford to the M23 for Gatwick Airport.
Further north, the M53 northbound from Chester to Liverpool will be worst affected by delays during home-time traffic on Friday.
The RAC and INRIX have said roads will be at their most congested between 1pm and 7pm today and over the weekend, and recommend drivers either set off early or later in the evening.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson added: “Our research suggests that with Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year, many drivers will be squeezing in their getaway trips right up until the big day itself.
“While the getaway starts to ramp up from Friday, ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ looks particularly challenging as does Christmas Eve. Travelling outside peak hours might be the only way drivers miss the worst of the jams.”
Read more from Sky News:
Water bills to rise by average of 36% over next five years
Putin proposes ‘high-tech duel’ with US in Kyiv
She also noted that “planned rail strikes are also likely to add to the misery”, as Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike after Christmas.
Railway engineering works will also take place at Liverpool Street, Paddington, and St Pancras over Christmas and New Year, impacting holiday commuters.
It comes after the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings in the lead up to Christmas, with parts of Scotland expecting to see very strong westerly winds on Saturday.
The chancellor and foreign secretary are threatening to take Roman Abramovich to court to seize the proceeds of his Chelsea FC sale.
The Russian oligarch, who is sanctioned by the UK government over his alleged links to Vladimir Putin, sold Chelsea for £2.5bn to an American consortium in 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Those funds remain in a frozen UK bank account but are meant to be used for humanitarian causes linked to the Ukraine war.
Abramovich has denied close ties to Vladimir Putin. File pic: Reuters
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have now said they are “deeply frustrated” an agreement cannot be reached with the oligarch and will take him to court if it cannot be dealt with soon.
In a joint statement, they said: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.
“While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”
Read more:
Russians react to Ukraine’s drone attack
Putin humiliated by ‘Russia’s Pearl Harbor’ – analysis
Zelenskyy: Strikes will go ‘in history books’
Rachel Reeves said she was ‘deeply frustrated’ an agreement had not been reached by Roman Abramovich
Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea – which he bought for a reported £140m – after 19 years of ownership, after being sanctioned by the government over his alleged close ties to the Russian president – something he denies.
The sale was made under the supervision of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, under the proviso the proceeds go to humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
They cannot be moved or used without a licence from the office.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Ukraine targets Russian military aircraft
In March, the Foreign Office said officials were in talks with Abramovich’s representatives, but multiple sources told the BBC there had been no meetings between any Labour ministers and members of the foundation set up to oversee the funds since last July’s general election.
They said there was a deadlock and a political decision by a minister is needed to negotiate and sign off an agreement.
It is not known if there have been meetings in the three months since then.
The £2.5bn – and interest accrued – would make up for some of the reduction in the aid budget, announced in February.
Human remains have been found as part of an investigation into the disappearance of a Polish woman 15 years ago.
Izabela Zablocka was living in the Normanton area of Derby but lost contact with her family in August 2010, when she was 30, and has never been found.
However, new information came to light last week and a murder investigation was launched.
Derbyshire Police said remains believed to belong to Ms Zablocka had now been discovered in the garden of a property on Princes Street in Normanton.
A 39-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of murder was re-arrested on Monday.
Two other women, aged 39 and 43, and a 41-year-old man arrested last week remain on bail.
Ms Zablocka moved to the UK in 2009 but disappeared the following year. Pic: PA
Detective Inspector Kane Martin said formal identification hadn’t yet taken place but it’s believed the remains belong to Ms Zablocka.
“As such, we have spoken with Izabela’s family in Poland, and they are aware. Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time,” he said.
“Identification of the remains is likely to be a lengthy process, but we will issue updates when we are able.”
Police will remain at the address for now as they try to gather more evidence on Ms Zablocka’s death.
A £20,000 reward is being offered until 27 August for information that leads to a conviction. Anyone who wants to get in touch is urged to contact the Crimestoppers charity.
Read more from Sky News:
New search to begin in Madeleine McCann case
Chancellor threatens to sue Roman Abramovich
DI Martin added: “We know that someone out there will have information about Izabela that may help us understand what happened to her, and urge anyone who saw, spoke to, or heard anything about Izabela in July or August 2010 to come forward.
“You may hold the key piece of information that we need to understand the full circumstances of Izabela’s disappearance, and to give her family answers on what happened to their loved one.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway