As the UK’s long bank holiday weekend drew to a close, roads across the country descended into chaos on August 26, 2025, with a series of major incidents bringing travel to a grinding halt. From fiery lorry blazes on the M25 to a serious collision on the A66 and an overturned truck on the M1, thousands of motorists found themselves trapped in gridlock, facing hours-long delays and uncertain journeys as emergency services scrambled to respond.
The day’s most disruptive event unfolded in Hertfordshire, where a lorry carrying hay bales caught fire in the early morning hours. According to National Highways, the incident occurred at about 6am on the M25’s anticlockwise carriageway between junction 25 (Enfield) and junction 24 (Potters Bar). “Please note diversion has a 4.7m (14.4’) height restriction and passes through TFL ULEZ,” National Highways warned, highlighting the complexity faced by both drivers and authorities as they scrambled to manage the fallout.
The lorry fire quickly forced the closure of three lanes, with only one lane reopening shortly before 9am. The result? Severe delays and a staggering 13 miles of congestion, stretching well beyond the immediate area. Traffic analyst Inrix reported, “Congestion to J27 M11, and heavy diverting down the M11 and around the North Circular. After being stopped for an hour and a half, with smoke from a lorry carrying hay bales. Letting some traffic past in lane four now, but it will take a long time to get moving further back.”
For many drivers, the ordeal was nothing short of exasperating. One frustrated motorist took to social media to vent, stating, “Avoid M25 this morning traffic at a standstill only have 10 miles to go and going to take me nearly 2 hrs.” Others reported being stuck for four hours or more, with the standstill stretching on as emergency services worked to clear the scene and release trapped vehicles.
The disruption was compounded by the presence of multiple emergency services. The Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, East of England Ambulance Service, and National Highways Traffic Officers all attended the scene, working in tandem to extinguish the fire, manage traffic, and care for those affected. National Highways emphasized the need for patience, urging drivers to “be patient while attempts were made to get traffic moving again soon.”
But the M25 was far from the only trouble spot. Elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, a serious crash on the M11 between junctions 11 (Duxford) and 12 (Cambridge) added to the day’s woes. The collision, involving a car and a lorry, left one person seriously injured and necessitated a rapid response from emergency crews. The injured individual was transported to Addenbrookes Hospital, and the road remained closed for much of the day as authorities investigated and cleared the wreckage. National Highways warned that the closure would likely last until the afternoon, further snarling traffic as drivers sought alternate routes.
Meanwhile, the M1 northbound near Luton was also the scene of significant disruption following an overturned lorry that spilled oil across the motorway. With only one lane open between junction 10 (Luton) and junction 11 (Dunstable), delays quickly mounted, impacting even those heading to Luton Airport. According to reports, several lanes were expected to remain closed until at least the evening, with some motorists recounting being trapped for hours on end.
Not to be outdone, the A66 in the Barnard Castle area became another focal point of travel misery. A serious collision near Bowes led to a full closure of the route between the A67 at Bowes and the A1(M) Scotch Corner in both directions. Police, paramedics, and firefighters were all on site, with Durham Constabulary confirming, “We are currently dealing with a road traffic collision on the A66 near Bowes. The road between Bowes and Scotch Corner is closed on both directions. Motorists are advised to find an alternative route. Thank you for your patience.”
National Highways North-East echoed the warning, confirming the closure and publishing detailed diversion routes for both eastbound and westbound traffic. The diversions themselves were lengthy and complex, requiring drivers to navigate through Barnard Castle, cross the River Tees, and follow a series of roundabouts and local roads before rejoining their intended routes. For many, the uncertainty about when the road would reopen only added to the day’s mounting frustrations.
Throughout the day, live feeds and updates from news outlets such as BBC and Metro.co.uk kept the public informed, though the sheer scale of disruption meant that real-time information was often in high demand. BBC reported that traffic on the M25 had “come to a standstill,” while Metro.co.uk described the UK’s roads as being “plagued by crashes, a lorry fire and an overturned truck.” The consensus across sources was clear: this was no ordinary post-bank holiday commute.
For those caught up in the chaos, the experience was a stark reminder of the fragility of the nation’s transport arteries. The M25, often dubbed “the world’s biggest car park,” lived up to its reputation, while the M11, M1, and A66 all demonstrated how a single incident can have ripple effects felt for miles around. Emergency services, for their part, worked tirelessly under challenging conditions, their efforts underscored by the gratitude—and occasional frustration—of stranded motorists.
By late morning, some progress had been made, with lanes gradually reopening and traffic beginning to inch forward. However, the cumulative effect of multiple incidents meant that delays persisted well into the afternoon, with knock-on effects likely to be felt throughout the region for the rest of the day. Diversions, height restrictions, and the added complication of ULEZ charges for some routes only served to complicate matters further.
For many, the day’s events were a sobering illustration of just how quickly the UK’s road network can grind to a halt in the face of unexpected emergencies. As one driver put it, “You never think it’ll be you stuck in the middle of it, but here we are.” With the summer winding down and the return to work in full swing, authorities and motorists alike will be hoping for smoother journeys in the days ahead, even as they reckon with the aftermath of a truly gridlocked day.
