AA issues ‘amber’ traffic warning for busiest Christmas ever

December 15, 2025 Matt Allan

Drivers face record levels of traffic in the run-up to Christmas, with the AA predicting more than 24 million cars will be taking to the roads this Friday.

The motoring organisation has issued an “amber traffic warning” after its research suggested the roads will be busier than ever before in the days before Christmas Day.

Almost three-quarters (72%) of drivers surveyed by the AA said they would be travelling by car on Friday December 19, equivalent to 24.4m cars on the move in one day.

Along with commuters tackling their regular journeys to and from work, the roads are expected to be packed with Christmas traffic as motorists head out to do last-minute shopping, visit Christmas attractions or catch-up with family ahead of the big day.

The following five days are expected to be similarly busy, with between 23.4m and 24m journeys every day from Saturday to Christmas Eve. The AA is warning this could cause “gridlock” in some parts of the country. It is urging drivers to expect congestion and delays and to ensure they are prepared for journeys to take longer and to avoid suffering a breakdown en-route.

Soaring charger demand

The survey also shows that while the roads will be exceptionally busy, most drivers are staying local for the second year in a row, with the majority planning trips of less than 50 miles. The AA says this will likely increase congestion around retail hotspots and motorway interchanges – both popular locations for EV chargers.

With a record number of journeys predicted and a record number of EVs now on the roads, electric car owners should plan ahead to avoid inconvenience over the festive period. Although the public charging network has expanded rapidly again in 2025, chargers on key cross-country routes are likely to be busier than usual.

Expect public EV chargers to be busier than usual in the run-up to Christmas

Usage patterns are expected to be similar to last year, with the same charging hotspots expected. Drivers on the M1, M5, M6, M25 and M60 should expect chargers to be in far more demand, with queues at some locations.

As in previous years, peak demand is expected in the middle of the day, so topping up earlier in the morning or delaying travel or charging until later in the afternoon is advised.

For drivers who have to travel at peak times, a brief diversion off major roads can actually save time by avoiding queues at the most in-demand locations. There are thousands of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers within 10 minutes of motorways and other key routes.

There are also simple steps that EV owners can take to ease charging pressure and cut delays. These include charging to 100% before setting off, planning a route in advance, using “eco” drive mode or equivalent and preconditioning the car’s battery on the approach to the charger so it charges as quickly as possible.

Busiest routes

Shaun Jones, AA expert patrol, said: “With more than 24 million cars forecast on the roads on Friday 19 December, our advice is simple: plan ahead, check your route, and allow extra time. The AA Routeplanner will help you avoid the queues.

“We know drivers will be heading out for all sorts of festive fun but with so many sleighs on the tarmac, patience will be your best present this year. Pack essentials, keep your tank or EV charge topped up, and don’t let congestion steal your Christmas sparkle.”

Based on driver responses, the AA has identified the following traffic hotspots over the coming week:

M90 Queensferry / Forth Road Bridge (north of Edinburgh)
M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow
M74 (Glasgow)
M60 around the Trafford Centre – Greater Manchester
M62 Simister Interchange – Near Manchester
M1 around Meadowhall – Sheffield
M6 J4-11 (M42–Wolverhampton) – West Midlands
M5/M6 interchange – Near Birmingham
M42 J3A–J8 (M40 to M6 interchanges) – West Midlands
M1 J10–15a (Luton to Northampton) – East Midlands / South Midlands
A34 Oxford to Newbury – Oxfordshire to Berkshire
M25 around Bluewater – Kent (east of London)
M3/M25 interchange – Surrey (southwest of London)
M25 around Heathrow Airport – West London
M4/M5 interchange – Near Bristol
M4 around Cardiff and Newport – South Wales

Adding to the challenge, the M27 will close in both directions between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from 8pm on December 24 until 4am on January 4 for major works at Junction 10.

This closure affects journeys between Southampton and Portsmouth. A signed diversion via the A27 will be in place, but delays are expected between 10am and 4pm daily.