Travel chaos feared at Dover crossing and on UK roads as busiest summer weekend looms

Travel chaos is expected at the Dover crossing and across UK roads as the busiest summer weekend approaches, with tens of millions of Brits anticipated to hit the roads. With record numbers choosing to holiday within the UK and ongoing issues with the automated entry-exit system at Dover, travelers may encounter significant disruptions. The situation is compounded by a heatwave that has persisted for over a week, prompting warnings from transport authorities and driving organizations. This Friday marks the beginning of the peak summer season for domestic leisure trips, driven by a combination of extreme heat, concerns over international travel, and technical difficulties at the Dover port. Over 14 million drivers are projected to take to the roads for a summer getaway, with schools in England and Wales closing for the summer. According to the AA, one in five drivers plans to undertake a leisure trip of at least 100 miles in the coming week, suggesting this could be the largest domestic holiday since 2022. The Dover port is experiencing long queues as thousands of holidaymakers attempt to cross into France. The newly installed £40 million automated entry-exit system (EES) continues to face operational challenges, forcing French border police to manually process non-EU travelers. On Friday, approximately 7,500 vehicles are expected to travel to France via Dover, rising to 10,000 on Saturday as the peak of summer traffic begins. Eurotunnel, which operates the Channel Tunnel, has invested heavily in automated EES kiosks that remain unused, though rail operators indicate they do not foresee significant delays affecting summer traffic through the tunnel. Traffic congestion is anticipated to be most severe around London, particularly on sections of the M25 and M3, as motorists head toward the southwest. The AA has issued a warning to drivers, advising them to prepare for sudden changes in weather conditions following the recent heatwave. Heavy or thundery downpours could follow the dry, hot weather, creating hazardous driving conditions. Lee Morley, an AA expert patrol, noted that the first major school-holiday week in England and Wales typically sees heightened activity on the roads, with many drivers planning extended journeys as families seek summer escapes. According to data from the RAC, 14.1 million drivers are expected to travel between Friday, July 17, and Sunday, July 19—marking the second-highest number of leisure trips since the organization began tracking such data in 2016. Only the 2022 summer, following the easing of pandemic restrictions, saw a higher volume of travel. Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, along with the northwest of England, are expected to welcome the greatest influx of visitors, with RAC figures indicating that 9% of drivers will head to these regions. The Sussex and Kent coasts, Scotland, East Anglia, and Wales are also among the top destinations, drawing 8%, 8%, 7%, and 6% of travelers respectively. The decision to opt for domestic holidays appears influenced by several factors, including improved confidence in the weather, concerns over flight cancellations and increased airfares, and the inconvenience of navigating EU border procedures. Additionally, household budgets have been strained due to high fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict, leading many to choose local vacations over international travel. RAC breakdown spokesperson Harriet Hernando highlighted that the trend reflects a growing preference for staying within the UK, citing both economic pressures and logistical challenges associated with overseas travel.