Overview
- A concentrated wave of crashes and breakdowns on Monday and Tuesday, May 25–26, produced widespread lane and full-carriageway closures across the UK and long delays for holiday motorists.
- On the M50 eastbound between J2 and J1 a car overturned on May 25, an eight-day-old baby and the driver were taken to hospital, a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and one lane remains closed for emergency barrier repairs.
- A serious collision between two HGVs on the southbound M6 between J15 and J14 forced a full closure, left at least one man with potentially serious injuries, required multi-agency recovery work, and caused miles of queues into Tuesday.
- Separate major incidents included multi-vehicle crashes and long queues on the M62 and M1, a closed section of the M4 at the Brynglas tunnels and later Swansea, an M25 motorcycle crash closure in Hertfordshire, and A12/A14 carriageway defects that required emergency lane closures and planned repair work.
- National Highways, local police forces and ambulance services are managing diversions, asking witnesses and dashcam owners to come forward, and warning that high holiday traffic and hot temperatures may prolong repairs and knock-on congestion for drivers and local events.