The M25’s morning from hell has claimed a fourth victim — a crash near Heathrow and Staines has added to the major delays already crippling London’s orbital motorway.
Tuesday 20 October will go down as one of the most chaotic mornings in the M25’s history, with four separate incidents now causing major delays across different sections of the motorway.
Fourth crash near Heathrow
The latest incident happened near Heathrow Airport and Staines, adding to the misery for drivers already dealing with crashes near Cobham and Upminster, plus earlier Southeastern rail cancellations.
With incidents spanning from Surrey to Essex to west London, there is barely a section of the M25 unaffected this morning. Delays are described as major, with queueing traffic in multiple locations.
Unprecedented disruption
Four separate incidents on the same morning is extraordinary — even for the M25, which is no stranger to congestion. The combination of crashes, combined with Elizabeth line delays and Southeastern cancellations, has created a perfect storm for London commuters.
National Highways is urging drivers to avoid the M25 if possible, or to allow very significantly extra time for journeys. Those heading to Heathrow Airport should be particularly cautious, with the crash happening close to airport approaches.
What to do
Check National Highways’ website and social media for live updates. Consider alternative routes — though with so much of the network affected, options are limited.
For airport passengers, allow extra time and consider the Piccadilly line or Heathrow Express as alternatives to driving — though the Elizabeth line is also disrupted.
London Streets is tracking all of today’s transport disruption live.
