M5, A38 and A30 bank holiday getaway traffic across Devon – live updates

Devon’s key routes are starting to fill this afternoon as the bank holiday getaway begins. There have been multiple accidents on the M5 already today as millions take to the motorway.

This May bank holiday is expected to be the busiest in six years following news that around 16.8million leisure trips are expected to be made. According to the RAC, Monday May 2 is expected to be the busiest day with 3.3 million journeys to be made.

RAC traffic spokesperson Rod Dennis has said Brits are expected to flock to the classic tourist hotspots, especially coastal areas. He said: “Easter might only have been a couple of weeks ago, but it looks as though plenty of drivers are still looking to make the most of this May Day bank holiday.

“We expect routes to classic tourist hotspots – especially the coasts – to clog up on Friday afternoon and through Saturday morning, although according to our research Monday could turn out to be the busiest day of the long weekend.

“Preparation is paramount though to avoid an inconvenient breakdown at the side of the road – it’s a fact that the majority of the jobs our patrols will attend this weekend will be avoidable if drivers spend just a little time checking their vehicles are ‘road-ready’. A quick look under the bonnet to check oil and coolant levels, as well as ensuring tyres are properly inflated and are in good condition could save hours of hassle at the side of the road.”

The RAC have also issued some advice to avoid breaking down over this bank holiday weekend. Ben Aldous a Manchester-based patrol said: “Put simply, a well-maintained car is much less likely to break down than one that hasn’t been looked after. So, if you have a big drive coming up and suspect something on your car’s not quite right then get it into a good garage as soon as you can this week.”

Kevin Andrews a Bath-based patrol said: “Keep your locking wheel nut somewhere you can easily find it as this makes it quicker for us to do a tyre change if needed. Make sure that everything fixed to the outside of your car – bikes, roof boxes – are properly secured. If you’re travelling with a dog, again ensure it’s secure inside and has some food and water. And download and use the free MyRAC mobile app as it makes it much easier for us to find you.”

We’ll bring you live updates on Devon’s roads and beyond as we get them. Updates will appear in the blog below.