Today could see 2.5 million leisure trips alone as the holidays get underway.
With schools breaking up for the summer, around 11% of drivers have admitted to travelling to a holiday destination with known faults on their vehicle, according to new data from the RAC and transport analytics specialists INRIX.
The research, which polled 2,435 adults, found that this included ignoring engine warning lights, worn tires, fluid leaks and mechanical problems among many issues in a “massive gamble” for those going away for the summer.
As many schools are now closed, separate RAC research found that an estimated 27 million leisure trips will be made over the course of the next six days, which could mean more holidaymakers risking breakdowns.
“That’s the equivalent of more than 2.7 million drivers at the wheel of a faulty vehicle this week – a truly frightening statistic – which may lead to a breakdown or even worse, an accident,” commented RAC Breakdown Spokesperson Alice Simpson.
The RAC website lists battery issues as the most common reason for callouts, making up 18% of all breakdowns.