Figures show 11% of drivers travel with known car issues during the summer

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.

The resultant congestion is expected to peak in what Simpson describes as a “weekend of woe”, with a projected 13.8 million trips from Friday 26 July to Sunday 28 July.

These figures suggest that this is shaping up to be the busiest getaway period since 2022, which saw 18.8 million trips in the same first weekend of the summer holidays.

This was no doubt spurred on by both the heatwave and desire to travel following the previous two years of COVID lockdowns.

“Our research suggests this year’s getaway is set to be busier than average, possibly due to the UK inflation rate having slowed, giving people a bit more confidence to spend,” added Simpson.