A ROAD safety charity is urging hot-headed motorists to keep calm at the wheel this Bank Holiday.
Motoring organisation the AA has forecast that as many as 16 million vehicles could take to the road over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Crowds flocking to the Leeds Festival and sporting events are expected to lead to hold-ups in West Yorkshire.
To help elevate the congestion road works have been lifted a near 10-mile stretch on the M62 between junction 24 to junction 25.
But the Huddersfield road safety charity Brake expects people will still lose their temper in traffic jams.
In a new report Brake and insurers Direct Line say drivers who allow stress or passengers to distract them while driving this bank holiday could have disastrous consequences.
Their calls come as research published today shows that seven in 10 drivers (71%) have lost concentration at the wheel in the past year because of stress caused by inconsiderate road users, worries about work or tension at home.
It also found that two in five drivers (42%) have lost concentration because of distractions from other people in the vehicle.
Ellen Booth, Brake senior campaigns officer, said: “Every death and serious injury on the roads is devastating and tears families apart. All too often these casualties result from careless errors that could easily be avoided if drivers gave their full attention to the road.
“People live busy, complicated lives, and driving over the bank holiday can be especially stressful, so it’s easy to understand why people get distracted.
“But driving is a massive responsibility because of the harm you can cause, so when you’re behind the wheel you must put safety first and stay focused.
“If you are so upset or angry that you can’t give driving your full attention, you need to pull over and cool off.”
