26 December 2025
A new AA survey* lifts the lid on post-Christmas travel plans and reveals New Year’s Day will be the quietest day on the roads. Just 53% of drivers expect to travel, around 18 million cars, making it even quieter than Christmas Day.
New Year’s Day may be the quietest day on the roads, which could come as a relief after New Year celebrations. However, drivers are reminded that alcohol can remain in the system the morning after a night out. Anyone over the legal limit risks losing their licence if stopped or breathalysed.
Before that lull, traffic surges between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve as families visit loved ones, shoppers hunt for bargains, and key workers keep the country moving.
“If you haven’t ventured out much over Christmas, now is the perfect time to make sure your car is ready for the return to work and school.”
The momentum continues into January. Monday 5 January marks the big return to work and school, with 65% of people driving or around 22 million cars - making it one of the busiest days of the post-festive period.
Why Are People Driving?
Visiting family and friends is the main reason for travel, cited by 60–63% of drivers. Shopping follows closely at 47–52%, covering sales, returns and New Year essentials. Work accounts for 27–29% of trips, reflecting key roles that continue throughout the holidays.
Driving Activity by Date
Boxing Day kicks off a surge that peaks on 27, 29 and 30 December, before easing on New Year’s Day - the quietest point of the season. The calm doesn’t last long: by 5 January, roads are back to near full capacity as work and school resume.
| Date | Driving | Estimated Cars |
| Friday 26th December | 58% | 19,662,000 |
| Saturday 27th December | 65% | 22,035,000 |
| Sunday 28th December | 63% | 21,357,000 |
| Monday 29th December | 65% | 22,035,000 |
| Tuesday 30th December | 65% | 22,035,000 |
| Wednesday 31st December | 61% | 20,679,000 |
| Thursday 1st January | 53% | 17,967,000 |
| Friday 2nd January | 61% | 20,679,000 |
| Saturday 3rd January | 64% | 21,696,000 |
| Sunday 4th January | 61% | 20,679,000 |
| Monday 5th January | 65% | 22,035,000 |
Festive Travel Stays Local
Despite high traffic levels, most journeys remain short. Across the festive period, 49–59% of trips are under 50 miles, and very few exceed 200 miles.
Boxing Day (26 Dec): 49% of journeys are under 50 miles; 1% exceed 150 miles.
Saturday 27 Dec: Short trips rise to 55%; only 2% go beyond 200 miles.
New Year’s Day: 48% of journeys are under 50 miles, with virtually none over 150 miles.
Overall, long-distance travel is rare, reinforcing that most festive movement is local and community-based - from family visits to shopping and leisure trips.
| Date | 0-50 miles | 51-100 miles | 101-150 miles | 151-200 miles | Over 200 miles | Not Driving | Don’t know |
| Friday 26th Dec | 49% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 31% | 11% |
| Saturday 27th Dec | 55% | 5% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 19% | 16% |
| Sunday 28th Dec | 54% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 20% | 17% |
| Monday 29th Dec | 57% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 17% | 18% |
| Tuesday 30th Dec | 58% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 16% | 19% |
| Wednesday 31st Dec | 55% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 23% | 16% |
| Thursday 1st Jan | 48% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 32% | 15% |
| Friday 2nd Jan | 55% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 20% | 19% |
| Saturday 3rd Jan | 58% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 16% | 20% |
| Sunday 4th Jan | 56% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 18% | 21% |
| Monday 5th Jan | 59% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 15% | 20% |
M27 closure adds further pressure to post-Christmas travel
Drivers in the South face added disruption as the M27 remains closed in both directions between Junctions 9 and 11 until 4am on 4 January while major upgrade works take place at Junction 10.
The closure affects journeys between Southampton and Portsmouth, with a signed diversion via the A27. Delays are expected, particularly between 10am and 4pm when traffic is heaviest.
Motorists are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time, travel outside peak hours where possible, and consider alternative public transport options.
Shaun Jones, AA Expert Patrol, said: “Throughout the festive season we see a real mix of activity on the roads, and this year is no different. Visiting family, picking up shopping and getting back into work all keep people moving locally, even when the long-distance trips are few and far between. Most of the journeys we attend are short hops within communities, but they still deserve the same level of care and preparation as a long drive.
“New Year’s Day stands out as the quietest moment in the whole period, giving drivers a rare chance to avoid congestion. But the calm is short-lived - by 2 January, traffic rebounds fast as work and school return, and breakdown call-outs rise sharply. It’s a reminder that preparation matters most when the roads get busy again.
“If you haven’t ventured out much over Christmas, now is the perfect time to make sure your car is ready for the return to work and school. A quick check of tyres, battery, screenwash and fuel levels can make a big difference - especially at this time of year when cold weather and busy roads can catch drivers out. A few simple steps help keep you moving safely into the new year.”
Edmund King, AA president, said: ‘Too many drivers are caught out by being over the limit the morning after the night before. We don’t want the morning after to end in mourning disasters so are advising drivers to think carefully before driving after a night out.
‘It is difficult to work out whether there is still alcohol in the system the following day. One unit of alcohol takes about one hour to get out of the system. However, this is not a precise science as it depends on size, gender, whether you have eaten, state of your liver, metabolism and even mood. There is also confusion over units of alcohol due to varying strengths of beers and wines and different sizes of glasses.
“If drivers are unsure the following day a self-test breathalyser can give an indication of whether alcohol is still present. However, our advice remains, if in doubt, don’t drive.”
AA Advice for Winter Driving
- Check your battery: Cold weather is tough on older batteries; slow starting can be a warning sign.
- Top up fluids: Oil, coolant and screenwash should be checked regularly.
- Inspect tyres: Aim for at least 3mm of tread for winter driving and check pressures frequently.
- Carry winter essentials: A blanket, warm clothing, torch, scraper and phone charger can be invaluable.
- Allow extra time: Even short trips can be affected by ice, fog or local congestion.
- Keep fuel levels healthy: Avoid running low, especially when roads are busy or conditions worsen.
* Yonder received 10,024 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 10th to 19th November 2025 Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
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