A crash involving a van on the M25 has led to severe traffic congestion in Surrey, coinciding with the early May bank holiday weekend when millions are expected to travel. Motorists are currently facing delays of around 45 minutes and queues stretching for six miles between junctions J10 (Guildford) and J11 (Woking).
According to reports from National Highways, there are also significant delays on the anticlockwise carriageway, with queues extending back toward Heathrow Airport and junction J13. This incident occurs during what is predicted to be one of the busiest weekends on UK roads in a decade, with around 19 million trips forecasted.
Key statistics:
- 6 miles of congestion reported on the M25 clockwise
- 45 minutes of delay for motorists
- 3.7 million people expected to travel today, termed ‘Frantic Friday’
- 4 million trips anticipated on Saturday alone
Sean Kimberlin from RAC commented on the situation, stating, “Even though fuel prices are uncomfortably high it clearly takes a lot to stop drivers taking to the roads to make the most of a bank holiday weekend.” The average price of petrol currently stands at 157.17 pence per litre, while diesel is around 189.23 pence.
The early May bank holiday is traditionally a peak time for travel in the UK, and this year is no exception; officials predict that Saturday will be particularly busy as families take advantage of the long weekend. As authorities work to manage this incident and alleviate congestion, motorists are advised to plan their routes carefully.