West Midlands drivers warned of busy roads ahead of Christmas getaway

Drivers across the West Midlands are being told to plan their journey and prepare extra time, as the roads are set to be the busiest over the festive season today.

National Highways are expecting over 7 million people travelling across the country for an average of 2 hour journeys.

To help ease traffic and congestion, more than 164 miles of roadworks have been lifted in the Midlands.

Drivers are also being advised to us the acronym TRIP to remember the four steps to take to prepare ahead of using motorways and major A roads this winter:

• Top-up: Fuel, oil, and screen wash

• Rest: Plan regular stops every two hours to avoid driver fatigue

• Inspect: Check tyre pressure and tread

• Prepare: Have a plan for severe weather conditions

Andrew Butterfield, National Highways Customer Service Director, said: "With more people expected to travel during the festive period and recent storms causing widespread disruption, it’s crucial for drivers to plan ahead and exercise extra caution on the roads.

“To help make journeys smoother, we’re removing roadworks on 95% of the roads we manage and to reduce the risk of breakdowns, we are also urging motorists to check their vehicles using the handy acronym TRIP - especially tyres, coolant, and oil levels before setting off."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.