As holiday travel intensifies across the UK, the M50 motorway—which stretches through Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire—has been recognised as the safest motorway in England and Wales. This designation offers motorists reassurance for a smoother, safer journey home.
Motoring specialists at Blackcircles analysed official government and traffic datasets to rank the safest and most hazardous motorways across the region. The M50 emerged at the top with an impressive overall safety score of 9.34 out of 10.
Connecting Ross-on-Wye near the Welsh border to the M5 motorway near Tewkesbury, the M50 is relatively short and experiences lower traffic volumes—averaging just 25,000 vehicles daily, compared to the national motorway average of 65,000. This lower volume contributes to less congestion and a safer driving environment.
Collision rates on the M50 are remarkably low, with only 0.3 accidents per kilometre—significantly below the national average of one collision per kilometre. Drivers benefit from an average speed of 66.2 mph, reflecting a steady traffic flow that rarely stalls.
Delays on the M50 are minimal, averaging just 3.5 seconds per vehicle per mile, ranking it as the second-fastest motorway in terms of average delay. These factors combine to deliver a comfortable and safe driving experience on the M50.
In comparison, the M25 encircling London ranks as the most dangerous motorway in England and Wales, scoring only 0.59 out of 10. With over 135,000 vehicles using it daily—more than double the national average—the M25 experiences twice the accident rate of the typical motorway, underscoring the challenges of heavy congestion and increased risk.
For drivers planning festive journeys, the M50 offers a safer, less stressful route thanks to its lower traffic density, smoother flows, and minimal delays.