As holiday travel intensifies across the UK, the M50 motorway—stretching through Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire—has been identified as the safest motorway in England and Wales. This finding brings reassuring news for many motorists hoping for an uneventful trip home this festive season.
Analysing government and traffic data, motoring experts at Blackcircles have ranked motorways across the country by safety and traffic conditions. The M50 emerged as the top performer, achieving an impressive safety score of 9.34 out of 10.
Despite its relatively short length, the M50 plays a critical role by connecting Ross-on-Wye near the Welsh border to the M5 motorway near Tewkesbury. Its modest daily traffic volume of 25,000 vehicles—significantly below the national average of 65,000—makes it one of the least congested motorways in England and Wales.
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The motorway boasts an exceptionally low collision rate, with just 0.3 incidents per kilometre, far below the national average of 1 collision per kilometre. Drivers benefit from an average speed of 66.2 mph, reflecting steady, free-flowing traffic conditions.
Moreover, the M50 experiences minimal delays, averaging only 3.5 seconds per vehicle per mile, ranking it second lowest for delays on motorways nationally.
In contrast, the M25 surrounding London ranks as the most dangerous motorway, scoring just 0.59 out of 10 for safety. With the highest traffic volume in the country—135,000 vehicles daily—its collision risk is twice the national average, making journeys more hazardous.
These insights highlight the M50 as an example of safer, smoother motorway travel, offering peace of mind during the busy holiday season.