The Highways Agency

Helping you plan your journey this Summer

When is the best time to travel?

If you’re planning days out this summer – perhaps visiting some of the gardens and other attractions you’ve discovered at BBC Gardeners World Live – it’s always good to know where the traffic is flowing freely.

The Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk/traffic provides a host of live traffic data to help you on your way.

In July and August, the main holiday routes are always going to be busy when so many people are trying to get away at the same time.  Leaving a little earlier or later than everyone else could mean you miss the crowds, but how do you know when and where the roads are likely to be at their busiest?

If you click the journey forecaster on our website, you can enter the date of your journey and see where the roads are expected to be busy or free-flowing, hour-by-hour.

We can’t predict incidents, but our National Traffic Control Centre has a huge amount of data on seasonal traffic patterns and we make good use of that data in our services to help you plan your journey this summer.

Check the live traffic information for your holiday journey

Packing suitcases, keeping children entertained en-route and getting to your destination can easily be the most stressful time of a family holiday.

To help you on your way we have a vast array of technology monitoring traffic flow and you can easily check this information on our website, on your mobile phone or by listening to Traffic Radio.

The team in our control rooms keeps a watchful eye on your route and passes on vital information to help you plan your journey.

A few minutes checking the traffic and weather conditions before you set out and whenever you take a break, helps you to allow the right amount of time for your journey or sometimes to choose a different route.

Visit www.highways.gov.uk/traffic on your pc, laptop or mobile - or download our free app for your iPhone (Remember: never use a mobile while you’re driving)