5 ways to avoid traffic jams

There’s no feeling more gutting, than leaving work in need of a cuppa and a warm bed, only to see a trail of cars in front of you stretching as far as the eye can see. Traffic jams are somewhat inevitable – in fact, figures released by the Department for Transport revealed that the number of vehicles on the road could increase by between 17 and 51 percent from 2015 to 2050. However, we have five tips that will help you avoid your next delay.

1.     Keep an ear out for radio alerts

Whether your taste is Heart, Capital or BBC Radio – these radio stations will give you the lowdown on any incidents that might hinder your travel. You can get live updates whilst you drive, with the added benefit of hearing your favourite tunes on the road.

2.     Time your routes accordingly

This doesn’t protect you from that crash on the M4, but if you fear the heavy rush hour from hell, you might want to consider rising for work an hour earlier (or leave later, pick your poison.)

3.     Consider downloading a neat travel app

We’re living in a digital world, and to get by it does help to equip yourself with the latest, up-to-date apps. The best bang for your buck (its free!) would be Waze. It analyses current traffic reports and calculates the fastest route to your destination.

4.     Check ahead for construction works or events

If you live in a city, it’s likely that you will encounter one of these two entities in your travels. Luckily, there are usually plenty of signs dotted around and you can even check where future construction work will be taking place by using local and national governmental sites.

5.     Plan an alternate route

If you’re continuously running into the same familiar congestion areas, you might have to consider planning an alternate route. The emphasis in this scenario being on ‘plan’ – if you run into a congested motorway and drive off spontaneously, you’re likely to get lost if you’re not familiar with the area.

We hope that these tips will get you by that little bit faster on the road, so you can savour even more time when you arrive home.