Christmas proves stressful at times, and it doesn't help when there's bumper-to-bumper traffic between you and your loved ones. Well, the AA Roadwatch has some handy advice that hopefully can help curb the time you spend in the car leading up to the holiday.
Commuter traffic may peter off towards the end of the week, but in a recent blog post, the AA Roadwatch says that drivers should expect traffic jams in the lead-up to Christmas.
Areas around shopping centres will be especially clogged as people rush to find last-minute gifts. The AA Roadwatch reports that commuter towns usually experience the worst traffic congestion.
"Motorists can expect to see a surge in city-centre traffic on Thursday 21 December, as last-minute shoppers try to take advantage of late closing hours to get all of their gifts sorted," said Elain O'Sullivan, Editor of AA Roadwatch.
She continued, "Meanwhile, on Friday 22 December traffic levels will start to build up from 1pm as those leaving city centres around the country make their way home for Christmas before traffic starts to die down again after approximately 4pm."
While traffic on Christmas day itself will be light as families cosy up together, December 27 is due to bring traffic to local town centres thanks to shoppers taking advantage of retail sales. The AA Roadwatch recommends that any eager shopaholics leave early in order to avoid long car journeys.
Thankfully, if you have any car trouble during Christmastime the AA Roadwatch and AA Rescue teams will be working over the holidays.
Most garages will be closed during this time, however, so the AA Roadwatch advises that motorists carry out basic maintenance checks before any long car journeys.
Here are a few more helpful tips from the AA Roadwatch if your Christmas day involves cars:
- Not all service stations are open on the 25th – remember to fuel-up in advance using the correct fuel type
- Make sure to have a spare wheel as a lot of tyre centres and garages are closed
- To avoid your battery going flat remember to switch off all headlights, interior lights, heaters and the radio when leaving your car
- Keep a pair of jump leads in your boot
- Prepare an in-car safety kit to include: a demisting cloth, de-icer, shovel, salt/sand, AA Membership card, torch, warning triangle
As well, these are the junctions that they predict will experience heavy traffic during the holidays:
- M50 southbound from J7 Lucan to J17 M11
- M7 Dublin/ Limerick Rd especially between J6 Castlewarden and J10 Naas South
- N40 South Ring Rd in Cork City; particularly between J6 Kinsale Rd and the Dunkettle Interchange
- N11 Dublin/ Wexford Rd from J5 Bray North to Kilmacanogue
- N4/ M4 Dublin/ Sligo Rd from Chapelizod Bypass to J7 Maynooth and also further west through Carrick on Shannon
- N21 Limerick/ Tralee Rd past Patrickswell to Adare and then again to go through Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale
- N18 Limerick/ Galway Rd through Gort and again further north from Clarinbridge to Oranmore
- N20 Cork/ Limerick Rd between Mallow and Buttevant
Merry driving, all you motorists out there! And stay safe!
