Organisation: National Highways
Date of Launch: July 2026
Uploaded to Knowledge Centre: 21 July 2026
During the summer months, thousands of drivers make longer journeys outside their usual routine – from early morning airport runs to long drives to holiday destinations. With traffic volumes increasing by almost 6% across England’s motorways and major A roads over the last three years, holidaymakers are sharing the road with more vehicles every year, making good journey planning even more important.
This seasonal increase in travel is linked to a rise in the number of fatal and serious injury collisions where driver fatigue was identified as a contributory factor. In 2024, 41% of these collisions occurred between May and August, with 20% happening during July and August alone. Most worryingly, 67% of these collisions took place overnight (between 7pm and 7am) – the hours that 60% of road-users who plan to travel outside of their normal routine, will be on the roads this summer.
National Highways says that despite this, many drivers are not taking the steps needed to stay alert on longer journeys. Only 42% ensure they are well rested before setting off, and just 55% plan rest stops before leaving.
Read more about the TRIP campaign on the link below: