Road trip

Britons collectively drive 15 billion miles each year on holiday road trips

That's the equivalent of going around the world 600,000 times, research showed today.

Around 17.5 million Britons have taken a road trip during the past 12 months, covering an average of 861 miles each, according to Halifax Travel Insurance.

Europe is the most popular destination for a road trip among those planning to travel in the coming year, followed by North America and Australia.

Environmentally friendly cars

But just 1% of people intending to take a road trip plan to hire an environmentally friendly hybrid car, despite the fact that this could halve their fuel costs.

Instead, 17% will opt for a mid-sized car such as a Ford Focus, 6% will hire a people carrier and 11% will rent a compact car.

An estimated 300,000 people will travel by campervan or with a caravan, but almost half of UK road trippers will use their own car.

Paul Birkhead, senior manager of pricing and underwriting for Halifax Travel Insurance, said: "From Easy Rider to Road Trip, popular culture has glamorised heading out on the open road."

"Millions of Britons have been inspired to hit the highway and embrace the freedom provided by a holiday road trip.''