Highways England lift roadworks in time for upcoming bank holiday weekend

Highways England is lifting more than 98 per cent of road works across the country to help people travelling over the August bank holiday – and motorists are being urged to make sure their vehicles are ready for the journey.

Last year, more than 20 motorists broke down each day during July and August because they had run out of fuel.

Almost half of all breakdowns are caused by simple mechanical problems which could be avoided with simple checks and nearly a quarter are caused by tyre problems.

Highways England will be removing some 445 carriageway miles of road works from motorways and strategic A roads over the bank holiday and today joined forces with leading safety group IAM RoadSmart to remind motorists to do their bit before setting off to cut the number of breakdowns.

Highways England operations director, Nick Harris, said: "We’re lifting more than 98 per cent of roadworks this bank holiday to help people get where they need to as safely and quickly as possible. If you’re driving out to enjoy the late summer bank holiday, make sure you take a few vital minutes to check your vehicle, especially if you haven’t done so for a while."

IAM RoadSmart Policy & Research Director, Neil Greig, added: "It’s excellent news that most roadworks will be lifted over the bank holiday. The onus is now on drivers to minimise the number of preventable incidents by driving safely and preparing themselves and their vehicles properly."

With tens of thousands of motorists set to travel across England, Highways England traffic officers will be working around the clock to deal with incidents on motorways and A-roads.

And before they set off, Highways England is urging motorists to:

Check fuel: Make sure you have enough to get to your destination.
Check tyres: Prior to setting off on a long/significant journey, check your tyre pressure and the condition of your tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, which is the legal limit.
Check engine oil : Use your dipstick to check oil before any long journey, and top up if needed. Take your car back to the garage if you're topping up more than usual.
Check water: To ensure you have good visibility, always keep your screen wash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen.
Check your lights: If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself at risk. In addition, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MOT.