The easing of lockdown this week will have enabled many people do a lot of things they couldn’t before, including getting behind the wheel a bit more.
Although many will have already taken the opportunity to return to the nearest pub beer garden for a long-awaited tipple, others will have left alcoholic beverages for another day as they took advantage of a range of opportunities to visit places and do things that have been off limits for months.
A survey by the AA found 83 per cent of drivers planned to take to the road on or after April 12th, the equivalent of 27 million journeys.
A quarter were planning to go to a pub or restaurant, while 23 per cent were going to take the opportunity for a much-needed haircut and 21 per cent planned some retail therapy.
However, with the warm early April weather having given way to some chilly spells since Easter, AA Patrol of the Year award winner Ben Sheridan warned that the weather might also cause problems for driving.
He added: “Many cars will have had little use over recent months and the last thing you want after lockdown is another long walk, so take some time to check it’s up to the job before you need it.”
The increase in vehicles may bring a rise in demand for windscreen replacement services, as extra traffic could lead to more accidents and in areas that have had very cold weather, such as Derbyshire, there may be the risk of damage caused by solid lumps of grit laid down to combat icy roads.
Other reasons people might undertake trips under the new eased rules include visiting zoos, meeting up with friends for socially-distanced picnics, or making use of sports facilities like golf courses and tennis courts.
People can also travel to use self-contained holiday accommodation.
