Traffic advisory on holiday travel: peak hours to steer clear on highways
Avoiding Traffic Jams During Summer Travel in Europe
As summer vacation season approaches, many travellers are seeking ways to navigate the busy roads and avoid traffic jams. Here are some strategies employed by a few individuals, along with general advice for a smoother journey.
Laurine De Cock, a mother vacationing with her 13-month-old daughter, has planned her departure for the night to avoid traffic jams. Her family's strategy is to have the child sleep during the journey, hoping for a peaceful and stress-free trip.
On the other hand, Morgane Sorin, who is vacationing near Antibes, does not plan her departure time to avoid traffic jams. Her family's disorganized nature may contribute to this, as they seem to be less focused on traffic patterns.
Edouard Mallinger, who recently travelled from Lyon, chose to travel at night to avoid the unpleasant surprises of the return trip. The distance to his destination, approximately 480 to 500 miles, took him almost 10 hours.
Kosti Curuvija, preparing for a vacation in Auvergne, plans to leave at noon to avoid traffic jams. His destination, Clermont, is approximately 4.5 hours away without counting breaks. Unlike Laurine De Cock, Kosti does not seem concerned about potential issues on the road during the day.
When it comes to the best times to avoid traffic jams during travel in Europe, weekdays Tuesday to Thursday generally see lighter traffic and fewer holiday-related jams compared to weekends. If travelling on the weekend, Sunday morning is the optimal departure time to avoid heavy congestion, especially after busy Saturdays. On Saturday, leaving late morning (before noon) helps avoid the worst peak times. To steer clear of daily rush hours, it is advisable to travel either very early in the morning (before 10am) or late in the evening (after 7pm) on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Key peak congestion days and routes include Saturdays during the peak summer holiday period, especially around early August, with long jams on major motorways like the French A6, A10, and Alps border tunnels, and in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Friday and Sunday afternoons and evenings also see heavy traffic, mixing holidaymakers with commuters. In Belgium specifically, Friday afternoon and evening plus Saturday morning are very busy on routes towards the coast and neighboring countries, while Sunday evening traffic returns heavily toward Brussels.
Travelling outside of school vacation periods or in shoulder seasons (spring and fall) reduces traffic and tourist crowds. This timing strategy should help minimize time spent in traffic jams during the busy summer period.
In summary: - Tuesday to Thursday: Less holiday and weekend traffic - Sunday morning: After Saturday peak, lighter traffic - Saturday late morning (before noon): Avoid early peak congestion - Early morning or late evening on weekends: Avoid rush hours and midday jams
By following these tips, travellers can enjoy their summer vacations with less stress and more time to relax.
- Kosti Curuvija, while planning his vacation, chooses to leave at noon to align with his lifestyle, unconcerned about potential daytime traffic jams, unlike Laurine De Cock who prioritizes nighttime travel to avoid these.
- Edouard Mallinger, during his recent car journey, selected nighttime travel not only to steer clear of traffic congestion but also to bypass the unpleasant surprises of the return trip, just as some tourists opt for daytime travel in their sports cars to enjoy scenic views and travel experiences.
