Driving home for Christmas? RAC says major routes won't be as busy despite motorists making 28 million trips on UK roads in the next 10 days

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Driving home for Christmas this year should be less stressful than it has been any year since 2011.

That's the prediction from motoring group the RAC, which has claimed there will be fewer traffic jams on major routes in the run-up to the festive break.

It's all thanks to Christmas Day falling on a Sunday, meaning drivers will be spreading their journeys across the week leading up to the big day.

There'll be less of this: There'll be fewer traffic jams (and significantly less snow) than this next week as motorists will be able to spread-out their festive journeys

The RAC's Traffic Watch experts have estimated the traffic levels on UK roads in the next 10 days.

While Christmas Eve is expected to see the most getaway journeys, with 3.8 million scheduled, Friday 23 December will be almost as busy.

That's because Christmas has fallen on a weekend for the first time in five years, which is positive news for the traffic flow on motorways and major roads.

Unfortunately, the cost of driving to see family and friends over the festive break won't be as cheap as it has been for the past couple of years.

It currently costs an average of £63.44 to fill the tank of a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, up over £6 on the 2015 cost. 

Diesel drivers are feeling the recent price increases slightly less acutely – it now costs £64.81 to fill up a family-sized car, up £5.56 on this time last year.

RAC Traffic Watch spokesman Rod Dennis said: 'With Christmas Day on a Sunday, and with most schools having broken up yesterday (16 December), it means many more drivers this year have a chance to space out their Christmas getaway journeys – and that is exactly what our latest data is suggesting.'

Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day on the roads, followed by Friday 23 December

The RAC is predicting that traffic will hit a peak on Friday evening as Christmas drivers collide with commuters to get home 

Dennis added: 'The fact we have a lengthy 'pre-Christmas stretch' this year is not to say there won't at times be heavy traffic on the road network through the week, perhaps peaking on the 23rd when many workers finish for Christmas and leisure and commuter traffic take to the roads together. 

'But we're hopeful things won't be quite as pressured on our motorways and major A-roads this year as they have been before.'

The latest information from the Met Office has predicted mild - and occasionally damp - weather in the days before Christmas, which should also minimise any particularly tricky driving conditions for UK motorists.

Roads will be clear but some are pothole-riddled

While the weather won't be an obstacle, some of the roads might be.

New research from online spares company Car Parts 4 Less has listed the 10 English roads that have been complained about most in the past year.

After issuing a freedom of information request to all local councils, 55 responded to list the routes motorists remonstrate about most frequently.

Car Parts 4 Less has listed the 10 roads that have been complained about most due to poor quality

The data shows the North West is bearing the brunt of England’s tarnished tarmac, with the top three worst roads found in Lancashire and Cheshire.

According to the AA, potholes cost UK drivers almost £684million in car repairs annually, with one pothole compensation claim made every 17 minutes.

Beware of drink drivers in London, study says

As well as the dangers of rutted routes, there's also a greater risk of encountering a driver who is over the limit at this time of year.

Confused.com said December has been the month during which the highest number of drivers have been caught drink driving for the past three years.

Coca-Cola meanwhile claims that one in 10 of all UK drivers admits to getting behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. The soft-drink firm surveyed 2,000 motorists to launch its annual Designated Driver initiative rewarding those who taxi friends and family during the festive season with a free Coke.

It found those in London have the most relaxed attitude to drink driving, with 25 per cent of people admitting they knowingly drive while over the legal limit in the capital.

Rural areas came out on top for party-goers organising a lift home and almost two thirds of people in Scotland were likely to nominate themselves as the designated driver.

The Scots acknowledged keeping a clear head and safety as the reasons for pre-selecting a driver. 

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