Traffic jams: which days will be the most difficult on the roads this summer?

The weekend of July 6 and 7 officially marks the start of the summer holidays. The consequence of this generalized period of leave is traffic jams on the main departure or return days. Since 1976, Bison Futé has been informing motorists about these traffic conditions, to enable them to anticipate, find alternative routes or postpone their departures.

To define these predictions, Bison Futé relies on data from road infrastructure managers “since 1993”, explained a spokesperson, data cross-referenced with the calendar (when July 14 falls, August 15 falls, the change between July and August). What emerges is a summer of forecasts. What can we expect in July-August 2024?

two dark days

The two most difficult days of the summer on the roads are expected on Saturday, July 27 and August 3. These two days are classified as black in terms of exits.

It should be noted that July 27 promises to be the worst day of the summer, and the Ile-de-France region is also classified in the black for returns. A Saturday which is also the first day of competition for the Olympic Games. This Saturday is also classified in the red for returns, a real weekend of crossover between Julyists and Aoutiens.

Bison Futé will raise its black flag on Saturday 17 August, heading back across the north-west and centre of the country, from Nantes to Lille, via Normandy and Orleans.

A busy weekend on August 15th

Another important date: the weekend of August 15. This holiday falls on a Thursday, thus combining a long weekend and a favorable period for the end of the holidays. Saturday 16 will thus be red and black, and Sunday will also be red in the direction of the returns. The situation will continue to be complicated on Monday 20 August, with an orange day in the direction of the returns.

The rest of the summer will be divided into Saturdays classified as red in the sense of departures in July and in the sense of returns in August. It should be noted that the last day classified as red throughout the country will be Sunday, August 24, in the sense of returns.