Reign it in… road safety charity warns motorists to take extra care this Platinum Jubilee Weekend

As the nation prepares to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 70th year on the throne, road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has urged motorists to watch out for a range of potential road safety risks.

Indeed, millions of Britons are expected to take to the country’s streets this bank holiday weekend, meaning road closures, traffic delays, an increase in pedestrians and the temptation to drink and drive if you get too carried away with the festivities.

According to industry experts, as many as 133,000 roads across Britain will be closed off as revellers flock to street parties. This, alongside the fact that many drivers will no doubt be planning weekends away or days out, means that many popular routes face the prospect of being congested.

Of course, the street parties will also mean that an increased number of pedestrians will be congregating on Britain’s streets, meaning that in some areas, drivers will need to be particularly vigilant of more people crossing roads.

And for some, the parties, and the four-day weekend, could tempt them to throw caution to the wind and take chances that they might not otherwise take - like drink driving.

Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, commented: “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend promises to be a fantastic occasion. However, the celebrations run the risk of being marred if motorists fail to plan ahead and seriously consider how the occasion will change the dynamics on the nation’s roads.

“We would like to urge drivers to take extra care this weekend by planning journeys, being vigilant of the prospect of more pedestrians, and exercising ‘none for the road’ if you are considering drinking alcohol. This way, we can ensure we all have a right royal time and make the jubilee weekend one to remember.”