Black Friday warning over holiday traffic

Tomorrow will be one of the worst days for driving this year as motorists try to get away for the half-term holidays – or make their way back.

And the rail company beset by chaos due to a shortage of drivers was urged to get a grip and ensure the weekend's services run smoothly for families.

Traffic experts have dubbed October 26 Black Friday as parents try to use the last chance of a week's break before the onset of winter and have to contend with congestion and bad weather.

The Highways Agency, which manages the country's motorways, will not be lifting roadworks this weekend because it is not a major school holiday and there is no bank holiday.

Drivers will have to contend with work on the M54 near Wolverhampton and the A5 and A449 in Gailey.

Work will be carried out overnight to minimise disruption.

Staffordshire and Wolverhampton schools break up for half term tomorrow while families in Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall will be coming back from their breaks.

Rail company London Midland has cancelled dozens of services over the past week due to a shortage of drivers and has warned more cancellations will follow until the middle of December.

Councillor Roger Horton, lead member for rail on transport authority Centro, said: "There will be a lot of people either going away for half term or coming back, depending on which week the schools were off.

"London Midland has to make sure the services are running properly this weekend because a lot of families will be travelling.

"It needs to be offering a service fit for the 21st century."

Meanwhile vehicle tracking company Trafficmaster has warned that the M5 between junction 2 at Oldbury and the M6, along with the M6 between junction 4A in Birmingham and 11A for the M6 Toll in Staffordshire are likely to be among the most congested routes.

The congestion will be worse because the weather is due to turn wintry on Friday, with snow expected in the north of England and in Scotland.

Graham Smith, data manager at Trafficmaster, said: "It is the final Friday of British Summer Time and for many the start of the school half term holiday week.

"The preceding or following weeks are seen by some as a final chance for a week's break before the onset of winter.

"Regular commuter traffic is likely to be heavy – especially homebound during the afternoon and evening."