RAC research shows that Britons drive an average of 450 miles during the holiday season

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Drivers of cars ready to be filled with gifts this Christmas are warned that they may create holiday hazards

In the next few weeks, millions of motorists will "play Santa" by loading their cars before setting off to meet family and friends.

Except for Christmas gifts, every nook and cranny will be filled with luggage, pets and family members.

RAC research shows that Britons travel an average of 450 miles during the holiday season—the equivalent of a journey from Southampton to Glasgow.

But experts warn that if there are no safety measures before starting these long journeys, it could turn into a deadly missile, flying at an astonishing speed of 65 mph.

Graham Conway, Managing Director of Select Car Leasing, said: “Christmas is the most likely time of the year to put a car on the rafters along with various objects and people.

"But if certain steps are not followed, these overloaded vehicles pose unique hazards.

"When a lot of things are stuffed into the car, it is very tempting to use space such as the back seat and parcel rack to stack gifts and luggage.

"However, if these objects are not secured properly, if you are involved in an accident or just slam the brakes, they can become fatal.

"If your vehicle comes to a sudden stop, even lighter objects may fall off and reach a speed of 65 miles per hour-putting the driver and passengers in the line of fire, causing serious impact injuries.

"And because these gifts range from plush toys to heavy and hard objects, they can cause some serious damage. A heavy suitcase can make it even more dangerous.

“Therefore, it is urged to use anything like bungee cord and electrical tape to tie up any loose things and make sure that it does not become a potential killer.”

Research commissioned by the safety luggage manufacturer Fixeta showed that in an accident at 37 mph, the weight of loose items in the car would increase 56 times.

This means that a standard "carry-on" size bag weighing 10k will hit a driver or front passenger who is equivalent to an adult bull (500 kg).

Overloading a car to exceed the manufacturer’s weight limit is also illegal, and items that obstruct the driver’s sight may result in a £1,000 fine and three deductions.

If a serious accident is caused, they may even end up in prison.

RAC data shows that 20% of motorists said that they think Christmas is mainly about driving to visit family and friends.

Boxing Day on December 29 will be the busiest day for road travel during the holiday season, with more than 22 million people expected to travel.