Drivers faced severe disruption on the M1 this morning after a police incident forced the closure of all lanes near Luton, triggering long queues in both directions.
The incident happened on the stretch between junction 8 for Hemel Hempstead and junction 9 for Redbourn, where every lane was brought to a standstill while emergency services dealt with the situation. It was first reported at around 9.46am, and although all lanes have since reopened, the knock-on delays are expected to take some time to clear.
Traffic cameras showed stationary vehicles stretching for miles during the closure, with congestion building rapidly on one of the country’s busiest motorways. Northbound queues tailed back as far as junction 6A, where the M1 meets the M25, while southbound drivers were held up all the way to junction 10 for Luton Airport South.
What happened on the M1 this morning
Police were called to the motorway on Friday morning, prompting officers to stop traffic in both directions as a precaution. Details of the incident remain limited, and it has not been confirmed what led to the full closure. Drivers caught up in the queues described long waits with little movement, as the diversion routes around the closure quickly became congested themselves.
Full closures of this kind are relatively rare and are usually only put in place when officers need the carriageway clear to work safely. Once the scene was dealt with, lanes were reopened and traffic was gradually released, but residual delays of well over an hour were reported on the approaches to the area.
Alternative routes around the closure
Drivers heading north towards Luton, Dunstable and Milton Keynes were advised to leave the M1 early and use the A5 as an alternative, rejoining the motorway beyond the affected stretch. The A5 runs broadly parallel to the M1 through Dunstable and can absorb diverted traffic, although it too was reported to be busier than usual.
For journeys towards Hemel Hempstead and St Albans, the A41 and surrounding A-roads offered another way around the queues, while drivers joining from the M25 were urged to consider delaying their journeys or using the A1(M) further east as a longer but moving alternative. Anyone travelling to Luton Airport was advised to allow significantly extra time and to check live departure information before setting off.
Travel advice if you’re caught in the delays
If you are already stuck in traffic on the M1, stay in your vehicle with your hazard lights on while the queue is stationary, and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front in stop-start conditions. Make sure you have enough fuel, water and phone charge, particularly if you are travelling with children or vulnerable passengers.
Check live traffic information before you travel using the National Highways website, traffic radio updates or a sat-nav app with real-time data, and be prepared to change your route. Never use the hard shoulder unless directed to do so by police or traffic officers, and remember that matrix signs and red X signals are legally enforceable.
Disruption on the M1 and surrounding motorways
The M1 is one of the UK’s most important strategic roads, linking London with the Midlands and the North, and even short closures can cause disruption across a wide area, including the M25 interchange at junction 6A. This is not the first time the motorway has seen serious delays recently – heavy queues built up on the M1 after a crash near Watford in a separate incident, underlining how vulnerable the route is to disruption during busy periods.
Drivers on the M25 have faced similar problems, with traffic halted near junction 27 after a car overturned in an early-morning crash, and two lanes closed near Enfield following a lorry fire that left queues growing. Motorists are encouraged to check conditions on both motorways before setting out, particularly around the M1/M25 interchange, where problems on one route quickly spill over onto the other.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. If you were affected by this morning’s delays, allow extra time for your return journey this evening, as congestion could linger into the afternoon peak.
