Keep your cars in trim for the summer

It is also using data from previous years to analyse popular routes and times in the East – allowing drivers to better plan their journeys.

Agency figures show that out of 22,461 incidents in the East last year during the summer months, 1,315 of them were potentially preventable – with 1,265 tyre-related breakdowns and 50 out-of-fuel breakdowns.

Simon Sheldon-Wilson, Director of Traffic Management, said:

“We’ll be doing all we can during the summer to ensure road users get to their destinations smoothly and safely. Our traffic officers will also be on hand to clear incidents from the roads and get traffic moving as soon as possible.

“It’s vital that people check and maintain their vehicles before setting off. A single preventable breakdown can cause chaos for thousands of people – and congestion costs the economy an estimated £3bn every year.”

“Inevitably there will be times where routes become congested, and many people will be driving on unfamiliar roads, so we ask road users to help themselves by planning ahead to avoid peak times, using our journey planning tools and allowing enough time for their journeys.”

Chief examiner of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, Peter Rodger adds:

“A major cause of breakdown is running out of fuel. Check that – and while you’re doing it, water, oil and tyres – and you will be well on the way to preventing a breakdown that could make your summer getaway an unpleasant experience instead of the brilliant one you hoped for.”

The Agency is publishing a list of potential hotspots on its roads, which – along with its summer travel advice – will help people as they travel this summer.

The Agency has analysed traffic information from the last three years for two key summer periods – the first weekend of the school holidays for many areas (18 to 20 July) and the August bank holiday weekend (22 to 25 August). For each of these periods, they have identified routes that can become busy.

Journeys to Cambridge, Great Yarmouth and Stansted Airport can become busy at specific peak times on 18-20 July and 22-25 August. The Agency will be suspending or completing the as many roadworks as possible during the bank holiday period to help road users.

Drivers can check planned roadworks on motorways and major A roads in advance on the Agency’s website. Just before they set out they can get up-to-date information about incidents and congestion hotspots on the road network by calling the Agency’s helpline on 0300 123 5000 or by checking Twitter.

Information about the Agency’s road network is available on the Traffic England website and drivers can download a live traffic info app to their smartphone so they can check on current road and traffic conditions while en-route. But remember it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.