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A38
🟢 A-road

A38 Traffic News

A38 Trunk Road · Bodmin → Mansfield
A38 TRAFFIC NOW
A38 EASTBOUND CARKEEL ROUNDABOUT…CLOSED 19:30–06:00PLANNED CLOSURE TONIGHT
Planned tonight, 1 of 3
Clear ⏱ Updated 14:25

A38 traffic at 14:25 on Tuesday 3 November: 2 closures running now · 7 closures tonight.

A38 traffic now: accidents & incidents by direction at 14:25
↑ A38 northbound traffic✅ No incidents reported ↓ A38 southbound traffic✅ No incidents reported
🚨 0 incidents 🚧 2 roadworks · 10 soon
🔍
255 miles long
Regions: South West, West Midlands, East Midlands
Home › Traffic › Roads › A38

🚨 A38 traffic now: live incidents & roadworks

Updates every 5 min
Share A38 status: 💬 📘 X
No live incidents on the A38 right now — checking National Highways every 5 minutes, 24/7. Closures are listed below.

🌙 A38 closures tonight and the next 3 days 12

From National Highways' closure report, in their words. Times can change - check before you set off.

  • Partial closure
    Southbound A38 southbound Hilliard's Cross entry slip road closure
    Now · until 05:00 Sat 1 May
    Diversion: Diversion route is via National Highways and local authority network.
  • Partial closure
    Northbound A38 northbound Streethay entry slip road closure
    Now · until 00:00 Fri 30 Apr
    Diversion: Diversion route is via National Highways and local authority network.
  • Full closure
    Eastbound A38 eastbound Carkeel roundabout to Saltash Tunnel carriageway closed
    Tonight · 19:30–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via the B3271
  • Full closure
    Westbound A38 westbound Saltash Tunnel to Carkeel Roundabout carriageway closed
    Tonight · 19:30–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via B3271
  • Full closure
    Southbound A38 southbound Little Eaton to Palm Court carriageway closure
    Tonight · 20:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via National Highways network and local authority network
  • Full closure
    Eastbound A38 eastbound Lower Dean to Buckfastleigh carriageway closed
    Tonight · 20:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A385 and A384
Show all 12 closures
  • Full closure
    Westbound A38 westbound Dartbridge to Marley Head carriageway closed
    Tonight · 20:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A384 & A385
  • Full closure
    Eastbound A38 eastbound Manadon to Marsh Mills carriageway closure
    Tonight · 20:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via - A386, Fort Austin Avenue, A3822, The Parkway, exit at Marsh Mills and rejoin A38 via Marsh Mills entry slip.
  • Full closure
    Westbound A38 westbound Island Shop - carriageway closed between exit & entry slip roads
    Tonight · 20:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via exiting A38 and immediately re-joining
  • Partial closure
    Southbound A38 southbound Palm Court exit slip road closure
    Tonight · 20:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via National Highways network and local authority network
  • Partial closure
    Eastbound A38 eastbound M5 Jct 31 exit slip closure
    Tonight · 20:30–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A30 to Alphington, A379, Jct 30
  • Partial closure
    Southbound A38 southbound Ripley entry slip road closure
    Tomorrow night · 20:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion route via National Highways network and local authority network
All A38 roadworks & diversions →

Is the A38 closed? Quick answers

Checked 14:25 on Tuesday 3 November 2026.

Is the A38 closed right now?

No. There is no full closure on the A38 at 14:25.

Is there an incident on the A38 right now?

No. No incidents are reported on the A38 at 14:25.

Is the A38 closed tonight?

Yes. The A38 has 7 full closures planned tonight (Tue 3 Nov, 18:00 to 06:00): eastbound Carkeel roundabout to Saltash Tunnel carriageway closed, 19:30 to 06:00; westbound Saltash Tunnel to Carkeel Roundabout carriageway closed, 19:30 to 06:00; and eastbound Lower Dean to Buckfastleigh carriageway closed, 20:00 to 06:00 and 4 more. Plus 4 lane or slip road closures. Diversion: Diversion via the B3271.

Tonight: A38 closures and diversions ›

Is the A38 closed this weekend?

Yes. The A38 has 2 full closures planned this weekend (Fri 6 Nov 18:00 to Mon 9 Nov 06:00): westbound J31, M5 to Kennford - carriageway closed, Fri 20:00 to 06:00; and eastbound Deep Lane to Lee Mill carriageway closure (56/6 to 61/4), Sun 20:00 to 06:00. Plus 2 lane or slip road closures. Diversion: Diversion from M5 via A30 westbound, A377, A3015, A379 to join A38 westbound Diversion from A30 via A377, A3015, A379 to join A38 westbound.

This weekend: A38 closures and diversions ›

Is there an accident on the A38 today?

No. No collision has been reported on the A38 since midnight.

A38 accidents today and yesterday ›

Answers use official data only: the National Highways live incident feed and their planned closure report. Times can change, so check before you set off.

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🗺️ A38 Traffic Map — Where It's Happening

Tap a pin for full incident detail. Live positions from National Highways.

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  • You hear while the queue is building, so you can still change your route
  • The delay and junctions National Highways report, worst first
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When you hearOnce a dayAs it builds
Queues and congestionMajor incidents onlyOn your roads
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📍 A38 Junction Status

Tap a place to see live incidents near it

🟢 Clear · 🟡 Delays nearby · 🔴 Severe/Crash · Status labels: 💥 CRASH · ❌ CLOSED · 🐌 SLOW · 🚧 WORKS · ⚠️ HAZARD

A red or orange border marks a STATS19 collision blackspot. Places run in order along the road — tap one to show only the live incidents near it in the list above.

📈 A38 Journey Pulse — when incidents actually happen

Measured from 130 incidents recorded on the A38 since February 2026: the riskiest window is 13:00–16:00, when 22% of incidents start. Right now (14:00) you're inside that window.

View as table
HourIncidentsShare
00:00–01:00 1 0.8%
01:00–02:00 0 0%
02:00–03:00 2 1.5%
03:00–04:00 1 0.8%
04:00–05:00 4 3.1%
05:00–06:00 3 2.3%
06:00–07:00 7 5.4%
07:00–08:00 8 6.2%
08:00–09:00 3 2.3%
09:00–10:00 11 8.5%
10:00–11:00 7 5.4%
11:00–12:00 6 4.6%
12:00–13:00 9 6.9%
13:00–14:00 ◀ peak 9 6.9%
14:00–15:00 ◀ peak 7 5.4%
15:00–16:00 ◀ peak 12 9.2%
16:00–17:00 7 5.4%
17:00–18:00 8 6.2%
18:00–19:00 4 3.1%
19:00–20:00 3 2.3%
20:00–21:00 6 4.6%
21:00–22:00 8 6.2%
22:00–23:00 1 0.8%
23:00–00:00 3 2.3%
Measured from 130 incidents recorded by this site since February 2026 (planned roadworks excluded). Recomputed nightly from our incident archive.

📍 Heading to… off the A38

The places people drive to most, the A38 junction for each, and live A38 incidents nearby at 14:25.

Airport

Bristol Airport

Lulsgate Bottom, Somerset
🛣️ Via the A38
✅ No A38 incidents reported within 3 miles

10.8 million passengers in 2025; on the A38, signed from the M5

🧭 Directions Somerset traffic
Heritage

Croome (National Trust)

Croome D'Abitot, Worcestershire
🛣️ Via the A38
✅ No A38 incidents reported within 3 miles

NT parkland off M5 J7; brown signs from the B4084 or A38

🧭 Directions Worcestershire traffic
Theme park

Gulliver's Kingdom

Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
🛣️ Via the A38
✅ No A38 incidents reported within 3 miles

Family theme park in Matlock Bath, open March to November

🧭 Directions Derbyshire traffic
Attraction

National Memorial Arboretum

Alrewas, Staffordshire
🛣️ Via the A38
✅ No A38 incidents reported within 3 miles

National remembrance site just off the A38 near Alrewas, north of Lichfield

🧭 Directions Staffordshire traffic
Ferry port

Plymouth Ferry Port (Millbay)

Plymouth, Devon
🛣️ Via the A38
✅ No A38 incidents reported within 3 miles

Brittany Ferries to France and Spain; about 430,000 passengers a year

🧭 Directions Devon traffic
Crossing

Tamar Bridge

Saltash, Cornwall
🛣️ Via the A38
✅ No A38 incidents reported within 2 miles

A38 toll bridge to Plymouth; toll paid eastbound only

🧭 Directions Cornwall traffic
Stadium

Villa Park

Aston, Birmingham, West Midlands
🛣️ Via the A38
✅ No A38 incidents reported within 3 miles

Aston Villa's ground on Trinity Road; Witton station about 500 m away

🧭 Directions West Midlands traffic

⚠️ Most Dangerous A38 Junctions

Based on DfT STATS19 police collision records. The A38 has 6,064 recorded collisions at 37 collision hotspots, involving 8,319 casualties (114 fatal). Take extra care here. Ranked by fatal, then serious collisions, then casualties - not by the number of collisions alone.

#1
nr Birmingham
857 collisions · 1,196 casualties · 11 fatal · 140 serious
Severe Blackspot
#2
nr Bromsgrove
303 collisions · 423 casualties · 10 fatal · 72 serious
Severe Blackspot
#3
nr Derby
293 collisions · 387 casualties · 9 fatal · 45 serious
Severe Blackspot
#4
nr Burton
175 collisions · 264 casualties · 8 fatal · 25 serious
Severe Blackspot
#5
nr Saltash
191 collisions · 305 casualties · 6 fatal · 36 serious
Severe Blackspot
#6
nr Plymouth
210 collisions · 312 casualties · 6 fatal · 34 serious
Severe Blackspot
🔍 See the full A38 collision blackspot map →

🛒 Journey Essentials

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📰 A38 traffic news, updates and closures

This is the A38 traffic news page from UK Traffic Updates: A38 traffic now, for the whole road from Bodmin to Mansfield. Every crash, breakdown, lane closure, delay and roadworks National Highways report for the A38 is listed at the top, checked every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, with the worst on the sign and where it is: the nearest towns and the county.

National Highways has closed its Traffic England website, so the live A38 information people used to check there is here in one place: today's A38 incidents, A38 closures tonight from their daily closure report, A38 roadworks, A38 accidents today, the junction-by-junction status and a live map. Our A38 traffic videos show what it looks like on the road, and drivers can report what they see as it happens.

Want A38 traffic updates sent to you? Pick the free daily road summary or Early Warning alerts for the roads you drive. For every other motorway and A-road, see live UK traffic now.

❓ A38 Traffic — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the A38 closed today?

Any A38 closure appears in the live feed above within minutes of National Highways reporting it, including tonight's overnight roadworks closures.

Is there traffic on the A38 today?

The live feed above shows every incident, delay, roadwork and overnight closure on the A38, updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, from National Highways.

Is there an incident on the A38 right now?

Every live incident on the A38 — police incidents, obstructions, breakdowns, debris, collisions and closures — appears in the live feed above within minutes of National Highways reporting it, updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day.

What is the worst time to use the A38?

The A38 is typically busiest during morning rush hour (07:00–09:00) and evening rush hour (17:00–19:00) on weekdays.

Are there roadworks on the A38 right now?

There are currently 2 active roadwork schemes on the A38. Check the live feed above for exact locations and durations.

What roads connect to the A38?

The A38 connects to: M5, M6, A50, M1.

Where can I get A38 traffic news and updates?

Right here. This A38 traffic news page shows A38 traffic now: every live incident, delay, closure and roadworks National Highways report, updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, with tonight's planned closures, junction-by-junction status and a live map. For A38 traffic updates sent to you, sign up on this page for the free daily road summary or Early Warning alerts for the roads you drive.

Is there an accident on the A38 northbound or southbound today?

Each side has its own live page: the A38 northbound and the A38 southbound each list every accident, breakdown, closure and roadworks on that carriageway, updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, from National Highways. The panel at the top of this page shows both sides at a glance.

What time of day is the A38 worst for incidents?

Measured from 130 incidents recorded on the A38 since February 2026, the riskiest window is 13:00–16:00, when 22% of incidents start. The quietest is 00:00–03:00. Incidents on the A38 typically clear in about 90 minutes.

📊 A38 Status Summary

0
Active incidents
0
Severe/serious
2
Roadworks
14:25
Last updated
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ℹ️ A38 Road Details

Length
255 miles
From
Bodmin
To
Mansfield
Type
A-road
AM Rush
07:00–09:00
PM Rush
17:00–19:00

📍 Key A38 Locations

Bodmin Plymouth Exeter Taunton Bristol Birmingham Burton Derby Mansfield

🔗 Roads Connecting to the A38

M5 M5 trafficM5 Motorway Live → M6 M6 trafficM6 Motorway Live → A50 A50 trafficA50 Trunk Road Live → M1 M1 trafficM1 Motorway Live →

🛣️ A38 Services & Motorway Stops

No services directly on the A38. Browse all services →

🔗 Related Tools

🛣️My Commute — save your route NEW 🚧A38 Roadworks View → 🕵️Was I Affected? Check → 🔄Route Checker Plan → 📋Incident Archive Browse → 🗺️Live Map View →

📱 Follow A38 traffic updates

Daily A38 incidents, posted across all four channels.

🎵 TikTok 35,000+ › ▶️ YouTube 2,000+ › 📸 Instagram 1,500+ › 📢Report an incident›

Junction

DfT STATS19 police collision records

0
Collisions
0
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Slight
🔍 Full blackspot map →
Beat the jam

Know before you go on A38

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🛣️ Save your commuteWe watch your route for you NEW 🔔 Early-warning alertsA heads-up before you set off ✈️ Telegram alertsFree · one tap to join 🎵 Daily on TikTok35,000+ followers

🚛 Car recovery along the A38

Broken down on the A38? Pick the nearest town and call a local firm direct:

On a motorway? If you can, get onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency area, leave by the left-hand doors and wait behind the barrier. Stuck in a live lane: stay in the car with your seatbelt on and hazard lights on, and call 999.

🆘 Send one free requestAll breakdown services