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M5
🔵 Motorway

M5 Traffic News

M5 Motorway · Birmingham (M6 J8) → Exeter
Severe Delays ⏱ Updated 07:33

M5 traffic at 07:33 on Monday 19 October: 1 live incident (1 severe/serious) · 1 closure running now · 3 closures tonight.

🚨 1 incident 🚧 1 roadworks · 12 soon
161 miles long
Junctions J1–J31
Regions: West Midlands, South West
Home › Traffic › Roads › M5

🚨 Live M5 Incidents & Roadworks

Updates every 5 min 1
Share M5 status: 💬 📘 X
💥 Road closed
The M5 southbound exit slip to the M5
near Gloucester
↓ Southbound 2 lanes closed (Hard shoulder, Lane 1) Clears ~08:36
Reported 04:26 · 3h ago

🌙 M5 closures tonight and the next 3 days 13

From National Highways' closure report, in their words. Times can change - check before you set off.

  • Partial closure
    Northbound M5 northbound Jct 11a exit slip road closed
    Now · until 06:00 Sat 24 Oct
    Diversion: Diversion for A417 southbound traffic via M5 northbound, exit Jct 11 and return to exit at Jct 11a Diversion for A417 northbound traffic via M5 northbound, exit Jct 11, A40 westbound, A417
  • Full closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 28 to Jct 29 carriageway closure
    Tonight · 20:30–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A373, B3181, A3105
  • Full closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 21 carriageway closure between the exit and entry slip (163/8 to 164/1)
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via - M5 Jct 21 exit and rejoin M5 via Jct 21 entry
  • Full closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 3 to Jct 4a carriageway closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via National Highways and local authority network.
  • Full closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 29 between exit and entry slip roads carriageway closure
    Wed 21 Oct · 20:30–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via exit and entry slip roads
  • Full closure
    Northbound M5 northbound Jct 25 to Jct 24 carriageway closure
    Wed 21 Oct · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A358 and A38
Show all 13 closures
  • Full closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 24 to Jct 25 carriageway closure
    Wed 21 Oct · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A38 and A358
  • Partial closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Sedgemoor Services entry slip road closed
    Tonight · 20:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Northbound M5 northbound Jct 10 entry slip road closed
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A38 northbound to Jct 9, M5
  • Partial closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 10 exit slip road closed
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via M5 southbound, exit Jct 11, A40 eastbound, Princess Elizabeth Way, A4019
  • Partial closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 7 entry slip road closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via National Highways network.
  • Partial closure
    Northbound M5 northbound Western Arm northbound to M6 link road closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via National Highways and local authority network.
  • Partial closure
    Southbound M5 southbound Jct 4a to M42 northbound link carriageway closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via National Highways and local authority network.
All M5 roadworks & diversions →
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🗺️ M5 Traffic Map — Where It's Happening

Tap a pin for full incident detail. Live positions from National Highways.

📊 How busy is the M5?

The M5 carries up to 150,612 vehicles a day at its busiest stretch (J5–J6), including 15,176 HGVs — the 8th busiest motorway in Britain. Official Department for Transport counts, 2025.

150,612
🚗 vehicles a day · J5–J6
15,176
🚛 lorries a day
2025
📅 DfT count year
10.1% HGVs
share of traffic on the busiest stretch
Busiest stretch of each motorway — vehicles a day
M25 212,636
M6 187,521
M56 179,634
M1 162,446
M8 158,065
M4 156,491
M5 150,612
View as table
RoadBusiest stretchVehicles/dayHGVs/dayHGV share
M25 near J14 212,636 14,853 7%
M6 J20–J21 187,521 23,492 12.5%
M56 J3–J4 179,634 7,547 4.2%
M1 near J9 162,446 19,151 11.8%
M8 J16–J17 158,065 7,214 4.6%
M4 near J4 156,491 6,249 4%
M5 ◀ J5–J6 150,612 15,176 10.1%
Source: Department for Transport road traffic statistics, average annual daily flows 2025. Official counts, updated yearly.

📈 M5 Journey Pulse — when incidents actually happen

Measured from 275 incidents recorded on the M5 since February 2026: the riskiest window is 12:00–15:00, when 22% of incidents start. Right now (07:00) you're outside the peak window.

View as table
HourIncidentsShare
00:00–01:00 3 1.1%
01:00–02:00 5 1.8%
02:00–03:00 3 1.1%
03:00–04:00 6 2.2%
04:00–05:00 6 2.2%
05:00–06:00 10 3.6%
06:00–07:00 12 4.4%
07:00–08:00 8 2.9%
08:00–09:00 14 5.1%
09:00–10:00 15 5.5%
10:00–11:00 7 2.5%
11:00–12:00 12 4.4%
12:00–13:00 ◀ peak 20 7.3%
13:00–14:00 ◀ peak 19 6.9%
14:00–15:00 ◀ peak 21 7.6%
15:00–16:00 17 6.2%
16:00–17:00 10 3.6%
17:00–18:00 18 6.5%
18:00–19:00 14 5.1%
19:00–20:00 21 7.6%
20:00–21:00 14 5.1%
21:00–22:00 9 3.3%
22:00–23:00 5 1.8%
23:00–00:00 6 2.2%
Measured from 275 incidents recorded by this site since February 2026 (planned roadworks excluded). Recomputed nightly from our incident archive.

🧭 Along the M5

🔀J15
Almondsbury Interchange
Meets the M4 at the four-level interchange
🛍️J17
Cribbs Causeway
The Mall regional shopping centre, just off J17
🌉J18–J19
Avonmouth Bridge
1.4km crossing of the River Avon
🎨J23–J24
Willow Man
12m willow sculpture beside the southbound carriageway

📍 Heading to… off the M5

The places people drive to most, the M5 junction for each, and live M5 incidents nearby at 07:33.

Heritage

Croome (National Trust)

Croome D'Abitot, Worcestershire
🛣️ M5 junction: J7
✅ No M5 incidents reported within 3 miles

NT parkland off M5 J7; brown signs from the B4084 or A38

Shopping

Cribbs Causeway (The Mall)

Patchway, Gloucestershire
🛣️ M5 junction: J17
✅ No M5 incidents reported within 3 miles

Regional shopping area beside M5 J17, north of Bristol

Airport

Bristol Airport

Lulsgate Bottom, Somerset
🛣️ M5 junction: J18, J22
✅ No M5 incidents reported within 3 miles

10.8 million passengers in 2025; on the A38, signed from the M5

Beach & seafront

Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier

Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
🛣️ M5 junction: J21
✅ No M5 incidents reported within 3 miles

Seafront pier on Marine Parade; follow seafront signs from M5 J21

Stadium

Sandy Park

Exeter, Devon
🛣️ M5 junction: J30
✅ No M5 incidents reported within 3 miles

Exeter Chiefs rugby ground, capacity 15,600, next to M5 J30

Airport

Exeter Airport

Exeter, Devon
🛣️ Via the M5
✅ No M5 incidents reported within 3 miles

Devon's airport, off the A30 and about 1.5 miles from the M5

⚠️ Most Dangerous M5 Junctions

Based on DfT STATS19 police collision records. The M5 has 909 recorded collisions at 37 collision hotspots, involving 1,370 casualties (30 fatal). Take extra care here. Ranked by fatal, then serious collisions, then casualties - not by the number of collisions alone.

#1
nr Cullompton
62 collisions · 88 casualties · 3 fatal · 11 serious
Severe Blackspot
#2
J29
50 collisions · 75 casualties · 3 fatal · 9 serious
Severe Blackspot
#3
J23
26 collisions · 33 casualties · 3 fatal · 3 serious
Severe Blackspot
#4
J14
27 collisions · 50 casualties · 2 fatal · 6 serious
Severe Blackspot
#5
J24
29 collisions · 43 casualties · 2 fatal · 4 serious
Severe Blackspot
#6
nr Weston Super Mare
24 collisions · 41 casualties · 2 fatal · 4 serious
Severe Blackspot
🔍 See the full M5 collision blackspot map →

🛒 Journey Essentials

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❓ M5 Traffic — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the M5 closed today?

Yes — the M5 is closed right now: The M5 southbound exit slip to the M5. Overturned Vehicle. All lanes are closed. The hard shoulder and lane one are closed. The event is expected to clear between 08:30 and 08:45 on 19 October 2026. Currently Active. Live updates above, direct from National Highways.

Is there traffic on the M5 today?

There is currently 1 active incident on the M5. The live feed above is updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, from National Highways.

What is the worst time to use the M5?

The M5 is typically busiest during morning rush hour (07:00–09:00) and evening rush hour (16:30–19:00) on weekdays.

Are there roadworks on the M5 right now?

There is currently 1 active roadwork scheme on the M5. Check the live feed above for exact locations and durations.

What roads connect to the M5?

The M5 connects to: M6, M42, M50, A38, M4, A303.

Is there an accident on the M5 northbound or southbound today?

Each side has its own live page: the M5 northbound (towards Birmingham) and the M5 southbound (towards Exeter) each list every accident, breakdown, closure and roadworks on that carriageway, updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, from National Highways. The panel at the top of this page shows both sides at a glance.

How many vehicles use the M5 every day?

Official Department for Transport counts (2025) record 150,612 vehicles a day on the M5's busiest stretch (J5–J6), 15,176 of them HGVs. The full breakdown and comparison chart are in the traffic statistics section above.

How busy is the M5 compared with other motorways?

The M5 has the 8th busiest motorway stretch in Britain at 150,612 vehicles a day (DfT 2025), behind the M25's 212,636 a day at the top.

What time of day is the M5 worst for incidents?

Measured from 275 incidents recorded on the M5 since February 2026, the riskiest window is 12:00–15:00, when 22% of incidents start. The quietest is 00:00–03:00. Incidents on the M5 typically clear in about 51 minutes.

📊 M5 Status Summary

1
Active incidents
1
Severe/serious
1
Roadworks
07:33
Last updated
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ℹ️ M5 Road Details

Length
161 miles
Junctions
J1–J31
From
Birmingham (M6 J8)
To
Exeter
Type
Motorway
AM Rush
07:00–09:00
PM Rush
16:30–19:00

📍 Key M5 Locations

Birmingham Worcester Cheltenham Gloucester Bristol Taunton Exeter

Junction

DfT STATS19 police collision records

0
Collisions
0
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Slight
🔍 Full blackspot map →
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🚛 Car recovery along the M5

Broken down on the M5? Pick the nearest town and call a local firm direct:

On a motorway? If you can, get onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency area, leave by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier. Stuck in a live lane: stay in the car with your seatbelt on and hazard lights on, and call 999.