Families are so eager to get away as soon as the schools break up for the summer holiday that 12.6 million car journeys are expected to be made over the first weekend. 

The RAC revealed 1.6 million trips will be undertaken on Thursday (July 20th), 2.3 million on Friday, 3.1 million on Saturday and 2.5 million on Sunday. On top of this, a further 4.8 million will be taken at some point over the weekend. 

Rod Dennis, RAC Breakdown spokesperson, said this shows “the UK remains an ever-popular holiday destination with millions of drivers expected to take to the roads at the end of this week as schools in England and Wales close for summer”.

However, he warned drivers to carry out some basic tests before any long journeys, such as looking at oil and coolant levels, and checking the tread and tyre pressure. 

Mr Dennis noted there has been an “enormous increase in breakdowns” this year, as drivers have neglected car maintenance due to soaring fuel costs. 

This could be short-sighted though, as repairs can be considerably cheaper than having to replace parts. 

For instance, having a chip in the windscreen might just need a car glass repair. However, the longer it is left, the bigger the crack can become, leading to the whole windscreen needing to be replaced. 

Car owners should also make sure their vehicles can handle inclement conditions, as Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon stated the “unsettled weather” will continue over the weeknd with long periods of showers.