To think the reason UK holidays can be shit is not the weather but the traffic?

[MrsBede]

....and it's much worse this year?

I went from the Midlands to North Wales a couple of weeks ago and it took twice as long as it should have both there and back. Just got back from London and it took about 90 minutes longer than it should have. For both these trips it wasn't just one delay, but several unrelated ones - for the former every step of the journey pretty much had long delays. For London it's just the M1 - that was slow going there for a long stretch and on the way back my SAtnav recommended a detour and that had delays too.

As well as this, my city is being dug up here there and everywhere - I can think of about 5 different local routes that all have roadworks on them and ensuing delays - one was the bloody slip road when I finally got off the motorway today!

It just spoils everything - we're going to Hampshire for a few days next week and the thought that the 3.5 hour trip is likely to be more like 6 is really putting me off and I half feel like cancelling, which is very unlike me indeed. I certainly expect some delays when going longish distances but AIBU to think this year has been worse than ever, and it's not fair! (Yes, I'm tired and very pissed off...)

No it is not just that you are the traffic. It is usually roadworks , a breakdown or an accident that causes the long delays .

One breakdown of a lorry can cause horrendous queues .

An accident can bring everything to a standstill for hours .

The article I linked above indicates that the average car is parked for 23 hours out of 24, and 58% of car journeys in the UK are 5 miles or less.

Many, many people could easily get rid of their cars right now, without any changes to public infrastructure or major changes to their lives (yes, some won't be able to before hordes of posters turn up telling me they absolutely must have a car because because because).

But they won't though because it's convenient.

My journey home from work (25 miles) takes more than the half hour it should every day. Roadworks, both on the motorway and around my town. There seems to be an accident most days at the same spot as well. Last week it took them 3 days to reopen one stretch. I have to drive as public transport doesn’t start early enough to get me there for an early shift, nor continue to where I live for the end of my late shift.

DH is going to football today, the match is about 150 miles away. He’s getting the train, as last time we went it took hours to drive so we’ll probably do that from now, but when it’s a late kick off it won’t be possible.

@HollyGrail

The school hols could be staggered over regions - though there is a risk of DCs living in one area are schooled in different areas if you are near the border. But Scottish schools break up 2 weeks before english - that is when everyone takes their hols. It could be staggered between areas. That would help and would extend the season for tourism.

By how much are you staggering the holidays by?

This is a major disruption to a massive industry, the logistics would be crazy.

• If the sixth formers in Devon are on holiday June-mid July, who is working in the cafes serving the tourists visting Mid-July-August?
• How will tourists access trains that are still full of commuters?
• How will roads be any emptier when you mix commuter/school traffic with tourist traffic?
• When your surgein is on school holidays at a different time in the county they live than in the county they work, which time should they take holiday?
• I have about forty other questions but cba to type them all out

The whole Scotland/England disparity between hols is not something we want to recreate tenfold across the country!

Shutting down for a fixed period is more efficient, you would just mess the whole country up.

This week we drove there and back from a holiday that was supposed to take 5.5 hours each way. Both times It took over 8.5 hours. For 3 hours we didn’t go above 20mph. The place we went was lovely but we will never go back

@Lockheart 5 miles with no public transport is still time consuming to cover.
My work is 5 miles away. To walk would be 1.5 hours each way. I don't have 3 hours per day.
The bus is 23 minutes plus a walk either end so at least 30 mins total if everything is on time.
The drive is 7 mins. I can pick and choose when to leave, I can get my kids easily on the way home.

We regularly travel from very rural Scotland to the rural southwest, the train is £160 per person and we have to drive for 1 1/4hr to the station (no buses) and leave the car somewhere and then get a taxi at the other end for £40 and another 3/4 of hr drive. On top of this the train journey takes 6 1/2 hours if we lucky it involves 4 changes, we are travelling busy mainline station to busy mainline station not two branch lines, you usually miss one change so 8 is average although once it took my DS 12. Driving even in the worse traffic has never taken more than 8 1/2 hours door to door we average 6 hours. Its a no brainer we drive.
I would Iove to go by train but at the price and that much inconvenience and hassle mean its not realistic.

[quote Hercisback]@Lockheart 5 miles with no public transport is still time consuming to cover.
My work is 5 miles away. To walk would be 1.5 hours each way. I don't have 3 hours per day.
The bus is 23 minutes plus a walk either end so at least 30 mins total if everything is on time.
The drive is 7 mins. I can pick and choose when to leave, I can get my kids easily on the way home.[/quote]
Yes, precisely what @lockheart said - people won't switch due to convenience.

I did switch despite the increased time it took, because I personally wanted to prioritise the environment.

There will always be people who can't switch, but many could.

I think it would help the traffic situation if the school holidays were to be staggered. This is the case where I live and I do think it's a positive thing. Here, for example, some counties/districts start their summer holidays in mid June and go back to school in early August whereas others only start at the end of July and go back in mid September. The other holidays are also shifted accordingly (although the Christmas and Easter holidays obviously a bit less so). This model also helps a bit with accommodation prices and availiability since demand is spread over a longer period.

We live in Dorset, it is is pretty miserable traffic wise in the summer.

Too many people on our small island, and not enough infrastructure to accommodate us all.

[quote Hercisback]@Lockheart 5 miles with no public transport is still time consuming to cover.
My work is 5 miles away. To walk would be 1.5 hours each way. I don't have 3 hours per day.
The bus is 23 minutes plus a walk either end so at least 30 mins total if everything is on time.
The drive is 7 mins. I can pick and choose when to leave, I can get my kids easily on the way home.[/quote]
So you have a bus option (30 mins is not a long time), or you could cycle.

In this case, you could definitely get rid of your car without any major consequences except a very slight inconvenience.

It's not even just convenience. It's not physically having the time. I can't finish work and get back using the bus before wraparound shuts.
Anywhere I can walk, I do.

I'm surprised people are surprised most cars are parked most of the day!

The way into the holiday bits of n Wales is a long, straight road. Baffles me why there are so many crashes on it.

V v frustrating if you live here and DO have stay in your own county (not even the nice one) cos you can't travel anywhere.

People, many of whom have presumably travelled on motorways to get here, suddenly can't drive on an A road.

The UK has not invested in the infrastructure to support such a large population.

But keep voting in the Tories who are too busy feathering in their own nests to invest in public services and cut them instead.

I come from North Wales orignally and it isn't 'inaccessible' without a car. Not by a long chalk.

As others have said, if you were a more thoughtful and discerning traveller you could also cut down your stress levels.

My fifteen year old daughter planned our most recent trip on the train, which in fact was quite complicated.

As for train journeys being 'only for the wealthy' like everything else, it depends what you spend your money on in the rest of your life.

Buying yourself a good set of walking boots is not expensive, and they will last a lifetime. Walking is key in North Wales and you will feel relieved to occasionally leave your car behind.

@TheMoth

The way into the holiday bits of n Wales is a long, straight road. Baffles me why there are so many crashes on it.

V v frustrating if you live here and DO have stay in your own county (not even the nice one) cos you can't travel anywhere.

People, many of whom have presumably travelled on motorways to get here, suddenly can't drive on an A road.

Interesting what you consider 'the holiday bits' of North Wales to be...

Yesterday journey from the South Coast to Manchester took 9 hours (with 40 minute stop). Major incident on m6 but also huge volume of traffic. Should have been 5 hours. Dh is having a well earned lie in this morning.

Last Saturday we managed South Wales to Cornwall towing in 4 hours. Was a wonderful start. Coming home on the Monday after 2 positive covid tests our of 5 was less wonderful but we did it in 5 hours and that was only because of a specific incident on the M5.
In May it took us 5.5 hours to get home from North Devon. We swore that was never happening again!

@User135644

The UK has not invested in the infrastructure to support such a large population.

But keep voting in the Tories who are too busy feathering in their own nests to invest in public services and cut them instead.

Yes quite!

@Lockheart
That's only my commute. I have kids who have swimming lessons in a place with no buses at all 7 miles away.
I have shopping to do.
The bus journeys in total would take 44 mins per day longer than driving. I wouldn't make it back before wraparound care closed.

And I understand that many people do need cars for work etc.

I grew up very rurally where there is no public transport. It was a car, bike, walk, or nothing.

My first job required a car as I had to visit remote sites, often carrying heavy equipment.

But as soon as I moved to London, I got rid of the car. I just don't need it. My office is also 5 miles away and my commute each way is 20 mins walking and 10 mins train.

@PyongyangKipperbang
I live in Staffordshire.... a break in my own county would mean staying exactly where I live as it is the only fucking visit worthy town in the county!

I live in Bedfordshire. Clearly I’m meant to look forward to a holiday in Luton or Dunstable. Although even that would involve the busy bit of the M1.

[quote Hercisback]@Lockheart
That's only my commute. I have kids who have swimming lessons in a place with no buses at all 7 miles away.
I have shopping to do.
The bus journeys in total would take 44 mins per day longer than driving. I wouldn't make it back before wraparound care closed.[/quote]
It isn't about you as an indivdual.

Nationally many people could manage without a car, but choose not to.
Some can't switch, many could.
If you are in the 'I genuinely can't' category, then why discuss further?

Try living in a holiday area. Journey time to work by car 12-15 mins (no public transport). During lockdown 9-11 minutes. Now alllow 25 mins and I’m sometimes late