Busy weekend on roads coming up
A busy Bank Holiday weekend is ahead as the country takes to the roads. With the weather set to deteriorate the AA is warning drivers to stay safe and is expecting to be very busy.
“People travel longer distances during bank holiday weekends,' says Arwen Foley Editor of AA Roadwatch. “We know for example that there is a 7% increase in fuel sales on the Friday and Saturday of Bank Holiday weekends as people get ready for long journeys. The motorways are busy from early on Friday and services like AA Rescue are geared up to be busy.”
With the weather expected to be particularly poor this weekend, motorists are urged to be extra vigilant. Sunday and Monday are set to be very wet, with strong, gusty winds accompanying the widespread heavy downpours. “Unfortunately, given our experience of previous Bank Holidays, traffic collisions are almost inevitable this weekend” warns Arwen. “We’ve reported on some pretty horrific crashes over the past few years and all we can do is hope that motorists heed our warnings to slow down and stay a safe distance from the vehicle in front, particularly with the weather conditions forecast.”
Flat batteries and minor tips are common during poor weather and usually means the job list stacks up for AA Rescue Patrols. “Nobody wants to get stuck on the side of the road when the only ones enjoying the weather are the ducks” says Arwen. “If you are taking to the roads this weekend, make sure you’re fully prepared, with warm, waterproof clothes, a fully-inflated spare tyre and of course your AA Membership Card” advises Arwen.
The AA Roadwatch team will also be working hard throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, with a number of events expected to add to traffic delays. “The June Bank Holiday is notoriously the busiest for traffic, with a large number of events taking place” says Arwen.
The M1 northbound is likely to be busier this weekend as the Irish Open continues at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle. On Saturday, the town of Slane in Meath will play host to thousands of Foo Fighters fans as they make their way to Slane Castle. In Dublin, both Bloom and the Forbidden Fruit Festival are likely to bring a lot of extra traffic to the N3/ Navan Rd, the N4/ Lucan Rd and the area around Heuston Station in general. There will also be major road closures on Monday in Cork City for the marathon and in Dublin for the Women’s Mini Marathon.