M25 traffic

A crash involving a van has caused severe traffic delays on the M25 clockwise in Surrey just as millions prepare to travel for the early May bank holiday weekend. Motorists are currently held up between junction J10 (Guildford) and J11 (Woking), with queues stretching for six miles.

Delays are approximately 45 minutes, and there are also significant backups on the anticlockwise carriageway, with queues extending back towards Heathrow Airport and junction J13. The early May bank holiday is projected to be the busiest on roads in ten years, with around 19 million trips forecasted over the weekend.

Today, dubbed ‘Frantic Friday’, approximately 3.7 million people are expected to hit the roads. Saturday is anticipated to be even busier, with 4 million trips expected alone.

Key facts:

• A crash caused severe traffic congestion on the M25 clockwise in Surrey.
• Motorists are being held between junctions J10 (Guildford) and J11 (Woking).
• Queues are stretching for six miles, resulting in delays of around 45 minutes.

Sean Kimberlin from RAC noted that despite high fuel prices—averaging 157.17 pence for petrol and 189.23 pence for diesel—it takes a lot to deter drivers from taking to the roads during a bank holiday weekend.

The situation is evolving as Surrey Police are on scene with traffic officers managing the situation. The incident highlights the challenges faced by motorists during peak travel times, especially when combined with ongoing issues related to fuel costs.