As festive travel intensifies across the UK, the M50 motorway—stretching through Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire—has been recognised as the safest motorway in England and Wales. This promising news offers drivers hope for a smoother, safer journey home this holiday season.
Motoring experts at Blackcircles analysed comprehensive government and traffic data to rank the safest and most dangerous motorways nationwide. The M50 earned an impressive safety score of 9.34 out of 10.
Connecting Ross-on-Wye near the Welsh border to the larger M5 near Tewkesbury, the M50’s relatively short length contributes to its safety record. The motorway averages just 25,000 vehicles daily—40,000 fewer than the national average—making it one of the country’s quieter routes.
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Collision rates on the M50 are exceptionally low, with just 0.3 incidents per kilometre distance, significantly below the average of one collision per kilometre. Drivers also benefit from a consistent flow of traffic, maintaining an average speed of 66.2 mph.
Delays are minimal as well, with vehicles experiencing only 3.5 seconds of delay per mile on average—the second-lowest figure among all motorways.
In contrast, the M25 surrounding London ranks as the most dangerous motorway in England and Wales, recording a safety score of just 0.59 out of 10. With 135,000 vehicles daily—more than double the national average—drivers face a collision risk twice that of the average motorway journey.
These findings reinforce the M50’s reputation as a dependable and safe route for motorists seeking a stress-free drive, especially during busy travel periods.