This weekend sees many families heading out on holiday in the car, with slow traffic as a result. Be prepared to wait, especially if you leave Friday evening or Saturday, says VAB.
One of the busiest travel weekends of the summer in Europe is upon us, according to mobility organisation VAB. In particular roadways leading to and from France are going to be choked with traffic.
Anyone driving out of Belgium in any direction is warned that Saturday will be the most-travelled day. “Try not to leave on Saturday,” says Jan Cretens of VAB, who adds that this evening will be almost as bad. “Sunday is really the best travel day of the weekend. It will be busy, but mostly for those heading back to Belgium.”
Cretens notes that it will actually be worse in France on 1 August, which will be summer’s dreaded “Black Saturday”. Not surprisingly, France is the number one destination for holidaymakers traveling by car.
Forest fires under control
But not everyone on the French motorways are staying in France, he reminds us. “Don’t forget that France is not only a popular destination, it’s also a transit country for people travelling further south or heading towards Italy.”
The forest fires that have made headlines in France this month are under control, but travellers should be prepared for ongoing delays. The A6 Paris-Dijon motorway, for instance, is only partially open to traffic following the fire in Fontainebleau.
Motorists are also asked to be aware of storms forecast in the mountainous regions of the Alps and Pyrenees.