‘Go slow’ fuel protests as school holiday getaway starts

• 'Go slow' road protests are taking place in response to high fuel prices. 
• Six-hour delay at Dover ferry crossing.
• Estimated 18.82 millon trips over the next three days as schools break up. 

Vehicles are deliberately being driven slowly along the M5 and A38 in protest against high fuel prices.

Although fuel prices have started to drop, they are still well above July last year when the average price of a litre of petrol was 134p (it is now 190p) and diesel was 137p (now 198p), according to the RAC.

The demonstrations come just as the school summer holiday getaway starts, which the RAC predicts will be the busiest since it began tracking trip numbers in 2014, with an estimated 18.82 million separate leisure trips taking place between now and Monday (25 July 2022).

Avon and Somerset Police said that “a slow-moving protest convoy of about 10 vehicles" joined the M5 northbound at J24 Bridgwater” earlier today and that a “small number of vehicles” had also set off along the A38 north from M5 J24. 

Protests are reportedly planned in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London and Manchester, according to social media. 

Today’s demonstrations follow similar fuel price protests staged earlier this month, which saw a number of demonstrators arrested. 

Six-hour delay at Dover 

Separately to the fuel protests, there are warnings of a six-hour delay at the port of Dover. 

Dover's MP Natalie Elphicke suggested that the queues have been caused because French border officers “didn’t turn up for work". Only six of the 12 passport booths run by the French authorities at Dover are currently open, according to the BBC.

Which roads will be busiest?

Aside from the delays at Dover, drivers are being warned that the M25 could see some of the worst jams, particularly on the stretches between Bromley and the Dartford Crossing, Maple Cross to the M3, and the M23 to the M40.

Data from Inrix also suggests the A303 near Stonehenge, M4 between Cardiff and Newport and M5 south of Bristol are likely to see queuing traffic at various points during the weekend, with unexpected vehicle breakdowns only likely to add to the problems.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Rod Dennis said: "With school terms in England and Wales finishing this week and millions of people ready for a well-earned break, we anticipate a ‘frantic Friday’ followed by a woeful weekend on major roads across the country, with traffic and congestion likely peaking on Saturday.

"The advice to drivers heading off on a holiday by car is therefore clear – leave as early as you can in the morning or expect to be sat in some lengthy queues."