Naples, 29 August (LaPresse) – 12.5 million car journeys are expected over the weekend on the Anas network, where traffic is expected to increase steadily as people return to the major cities of central and northern Italy. Viabilità Italia has announced red alert for this afternoon, Friday 29 August, tomorrow morning, Saturday 30 August, and in particular for the whole day on Sunday 31 August: there will be a sharp increase in traffic heading towards large urban centres throughout Italy from holiday resorts. According to estimates by the Anas Road Mobility Observatory, 12 million 585 thousand car journeys are expected. Summer traffic is not only concentrated at weekends: mobility involves the whole week, with millions of Italians travelling every day. Two out of three journeys take place on weekdays, while weekends remain the busiest days, with a peak already in the first weekend of July. “Smart” departures on weekdays have helped to distribute traffic, minimise congestion and ensure more comfortable journeys. This confirms the effectiveness of the stickers: many motorists have chosen to travel on days with lower traffic, thus optimising time and safety. Due to the large increase in traffic flows, Anas has increased the commitment of its staff throughout the country and reduced the number of roadworks. Until 8 September, 1,392 roadworks will be closed or suspended, approximately 83% of those currently active (1,672).