MOTORING chiefs today issued a warning to motorists across the south to expect traffic chaos as families hit the road to make the most of the heatwave.

Routes to the coast were expected to be gridlocked as families head for the beach after some schools break up.

Traffic was forecast to build from lunchtime today and between 10am and 4pm tomorrow with the M27, M3 and A31 expected to be particularly busy.

Scorching temperatures have already resulted in an increase in breakdowns.

The RAC has seen a 20 per cent rise in call outs this week and are expecting to rescue more than 13,000 vehicles this weekend.

The Hampshire-based AA will have extra patrols on duty after a 50 per cent rise in call outs since the hot weather arrived.

Air conditioning problems, overheating vehicles and faults linked to drivers not carrying out regular car maintenance checks have been most common.

Tony Rich from the AA said: “Over the last fortnight, most drivers will have seen cars stuck at the roadside with bonnets open. It’s usually down to driver neglect.

“When it’s hot enough to melt roads and buckle rails, any underlying issues can be quickly exposed, so do the basic checks before departing including the coolant level and operation of the cooling fan.

“It’s much better to discover a car problem at home, rather than in the outside lane of a motorway when the engine overheats.”

Police have also spoken out after six motorcyclists were killed in a series of collisions during the hot weather.

Extra officers will also be out on the roads as they prepare for an increase in collisions.

Chief Inspector Andy Bottomley said: “During this past week people have been getting out more on the roads, traffic increasing and it is set to be a very busy weekend.

“We will have extra patrols of officers out on the roads across the county this weekend to try and keep motorists safe.

“We need to stop this horrible trend of fatal accidents and ensure everyone enjoys the weekend in the sunshine without coming to harm.”

Dry, sunny weather is set to continue throughout the weekend, but temperatures will be lower with highs of 22C (72F) and 23C (73F).

The mercury will hit 25C (77F) on Monday but it will be slightly cloudier with a chance of light rain in the afternoon.

Advice for travelling long distances

• Plan routes in advance and allow plenty of time for the journey
• Check local traffic and weather reports
• Travel when the roads are quieter
• Check oil, coolant and windscreen wash levels and check the cooling fan, lights and tyre
pressure
• Pack the car safely without overloading or obstructing vision
• Keep plenty of refreshments in the vehicle to keep passengers comfortable during the journey or if broken down