Avoid traffic jams with proper planning

Whenever Europe is on summer vacation, it will get crowded on the streets and on the beaches.

Officials of the German automobile club ADAC recommend checking when European countries are on school break.

June, July and August are the months when schools close their doors for several weeks. Vacationers traveling by car have to expect longer traffic jams on highways. Travelers should avoid starting their trip on a weekend. ADAC officials recommend leaving on a weekday, and if needed, to plan an overnight trip. To avoid hour-long traffic jams, it’s best is to start driving in the early morning hours or at night.

Italy’s streets will be crowded June 12 through Sept. 12. Also, Spain’s high season is from the middle of June through the middle of September. France will close school doors from July 2 to Sept. 2, and Portugal will be on school break for almost three months, from June 10 until Sept. 20. Hungary’s summer vacation time will be June 16 to the end of August. Students in Austria will be off July 3 through Sept. 11, and Croatian schools will close June 19 through the end of August.

Traffic jams have to be expected on German roads, when vacationers from Denmark (school break June 26 to Aug. 10), Poland (June 26 to Aug. 31), or the Netherlands (July 3 to Sept. 5) will travel through to their vacation resorts.

(Courtesy of ADAC)