AA Roadwatch warn drivers to expect Christmas delays on these roads

Holidays are coming...

If you are making your way home for Christmas this weekend, AA Roadwatch has released a list of roads which are expected to have the heaviest traffic over the Christmas break. Making sure you allow yourself enough time to get to your destination this weekend is vital as heavy traffic on many motorways and national roads is expected. The AA believe traffic will begin to increase exponentially this Friday from 1pm, saying: “Meanwhile, on Friday 22 December traffic levels will start to build up from 1pm as those leaving city centres around the country make their way home for Christmas before traffic starts to die down again after approximately 4pm.”

AA Roadwatch are predicting heavy traffic on these following routes in the lead-up to Christmas:

• M50 southbound from J7 Lucan to J17 M11

• M7 Dublin/ Limerick Rd especially between J6 Castlewarden and J10 Naas South

• N40 South Ring Rd in Cork City; particularly between J6 Kinsale Rd and the Dunkettle Interchange

• N11 Dublin/ Wexford Rd from J5 Bray North to Kilmacanogue

• N4/ M4 Dublin/ Sligo Rd from Chapelizod Bypass to J7 Maynooth and also further west through Carrick on Shannon

• N21 Limerick/ Tralee Rd past Patrickswell to Adare and then again to go through Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale

• N18 Limerick/ Galway Rd through Gort and again further north from Clarinbridge to Oranmore

• N20 Cork/ Limerick Rd between Mallow and Buttevant

Last year, AA Rescue attended to 248 breakdowns on Christmas Eve and a further 47 on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, between New Year’s Eve 2016 and New Year’s Day 2017 the company’s rescue services attended 416 breakdowns. To insure a safe and merry Christmas, the team has also released a list of top tips for driving over this holiday season.

• Not all service stations are open on the 25^th – remember to fuel-up in advance using the correct fuel type
• Make sure to have a spare wheel as a lot of tyre centres and garages are closed
• To avoid your battery going flat remember to switch off all headlights, interior lights, heaters and the radio when leaving your car
• Keep a pair of jump leads in your boot
• Prepare an in-car safety kit to include: a demisting cloth, de-icer, shovel, salt/sand, AA Membership card, torch, warning triangle

Motorists can expect to see traffic pick up in the coming days as people make the journey home for Christmas. Don't forget, however, that @aaroadwatch and AA Rescue will be here through Christmas to help you. https://t.co/D4B8LlVljB

— theAA.ie (@TheAAie) December 20, 2017

AA Roadwatch also expect light traffic on Christmas Day as people tend to stay at home but they believe traffic will begin to get heavily congested on December 27th as people head to the sales. Their advice - leave early to avoid congestion. Beep beep!