Eighties rocker Chris Rea may have one of the most popular songs of the festive period with ‘Driving Home For Christmas’ but for many it will be another Rea classic, ‘Road To Hell’, which will be the reality.

Research published by the AA this week reveals exactly where will be the busiest and most congested roads and when to avoid them. Though the next few weeks has some of the quietest driving days of the year in Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the flipside is that many will be making an early getaway to be near friends and family.

The busiest expected day of Christmas comes surprisingly early this year, with Thursday 19th, closely followed by Friday 20th. There’s a gradual easing off as we get nearer to the big day, but Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th will still be busy.

Those who are heading out to do some Christmas shopping are warned that Saturday 21st December will be the busiest day for that pursuit.

Ben Sheridan, the AA’s patrol man of the year warned drivers to consult the road advice before making journeys. Speaking to This Is Money he said: “Getting stuck in traffic isn't part of anyone's Christmas plans and we hope our hotspot list will help drivers avoid a Christmas getaway nightmare,' he told This is Money.

“If you can't avoid travelling on busy routes then try to avoid peak journey times and, if all else fails, make sure you are well prepared for the journey.

“The last thing you want in a traffic jam is to be worrying about whether you are going to run out of fuel or trying to placate hungry passengers.

“The pressure of being late can be particularly stressful at this time of years and, with some delays estimated at up to 90 minutes, drivers should make sure they build extra time into their journey.”

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