We're lifting roadworks for festive getaway

This will mean that nearly 98 per cent of motorways and major A roads will be roadworks-free in time for those travelling to see loved ones or making other journeys for Christmas.

Our travel-time data from the past couple of Christmases suggests Thursday 23 December - the day before Christmas Eve - is likely to be one of the busier travel days on England’s major A-road and motorway network in the run up to the festive period.

But as many people take advantage of the holidays to visit friends and family, drivers will be happy to hear that traffic levels are not expected to be any higher than usual.

To help keep festive disruption to a minimum, the vast majority of roadworks will be removed from England’s motorway and major A-road network from 6am Tuesday 21 December until 12.01am on Tuesday 4 January.

To make sure Christmas journeys go as planned, we're encouraging drivers to check traffic conditions before they set off and to make sure their vehicle is ready for the journey ahead.

Customer Service Director Melanie Clarke said:

"We don’t want roadworks to spoil Christmas so we’re doing everything we can to make journeys as smooth as possible. Our dedicated control room teams and traffic officer patrols are geared up to help those travelling over the Christmas period.

"We’re also asking motorists to be prepared before setting off. Almost half of breakdowns can be easily avoided if motorists carry out simple vehicle checks before their journeys."

Check your vehicle

Before setting off, you're encouraged to:

Check fuel: Make sure you have enough to get to your destination

Check tyres: 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

More about checking your vehicle.

Check traffic conditions

You can find advice about traffic conditions on our Travel updates pages, Twitter feeds, and information line (0300 123 5000).

A series of vehicle checks videos are available to help people carry out basic vehicle checks before they set off on their travels.