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M4
🔵 Motorway

M4 Traffic News

M4 Motorway · London (Chiswick) → Pont Abraham (Wales)
M4 TRAFFIC NOW
M4 EASTBOUND J18–J17 CARRIAGEWAY…CLOSED 21:00–06:00PLANNED CLOSURE TONIGHT
Planned tonight, 1 of 2
Clear ⏱ Updated 12:58

M4 traffic at 12:58 on Tuesday 3 November: 2 closures running now · 2 closures tonight.

M4 traffic now: accidents & incidents by direction at 12:58
→ M4 eastbound traffic✅ No incidents reported ← M4 westbound traffic✅ No incidents reported
🚨 0 incidents 🚧 2 roadworks · 14 soon
🔍
190 miles long
Junctions J1–J49
Regions: London, South East, South West, Wales
Home › Traffic › Roads › M4

🚨 M4 traffic now: live incidents & roadworks

Updates every 5 min
Share M4 status: 💬 📘 X
No live incidents on the M4 right now — checking National Highways every 5 minutes, 24/7. Closures are listed below.

🌙 M4 closures tonight and the next 3 days 16

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

  • Partial closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 20 exit slip road to M5 northbound Jct 15 - carriageway closed
    Now · until 06:00 Sat 5 Dec
    Diversion: Diversion via M5 southbound, exit Jct 16 to turn and return M5 northbound.
  • Partial closure
    Northbound M4 westbound Jct 20 exit slip road to M5 northbound Jct 15 - carriageway closed
    Now · until 06:00 Sat 5 Dec
    Diversion: Diversion via M5 southbound, exit Jct 16 to turn and return M5 northbound.
  • Full closure
    Eastbound M4 eastbound Jct 18 to Jct 17 carriageway closure (170/6 to 155/2)
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via - A46 southbound, A420 eastbound, A350 northbound and rejoin M4 at Jct 17.
  • Full closure
    Westbound M4 Westbound Jct 1 to 3 carriageway closure
    Tonight · 22:00–05:30
    Diversion: Diversion via Local Authorities and National Highways Network
  • Full closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 15 to Jct 16 carriageway closure
    Tomorrow night · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A419, A4259, A3102.
  • Full closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 15 entry slip road carriageway closure
    Tomorrow night · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A419, A4259, A3102.
Show all 16 closures
  • Partial closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 12 exit slip road closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 12 entry slip road closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Eastbound M4 eastbound Membury Services exit slip road closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Eastbound M4 eastbound Membury Services entry slip road closure
    Tonight · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Membury Services exit slip road closure
    Tomorrow night · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 11 exit slip road closure
    Tomorrow night · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Eastbound M4 eastbound Jct 8/9 exit slip road closure
    Thu 5 Nov · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Eastbound M4 eastbound Jct 8/9 entry slip road closure
    Thu 5 Nov · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 13 entry slip road closure
    Thu 5 Nov · 21:00–06:00
  • Partial closure
    Westbound M4 westbound Jct 19 entry slip road closed
    Thu 5 Nov · 21:00–06:00
    Diversion: Diversion via A4174, A38, M5
All M4 roadworks & diversions →

Is the M4 closed? Quick answers

Checked 12:58 on Tuesday 3 November 2026.

Is the M4 closed right now?

No. There is no full closure on the M4 at 12:58.

Is there an incident on the M4 right now?

No. No incidents are reported on the M4 at 12:58.

Is the M4 closed tonight?

Yes. The M4 has 2 full closures planned tonight (Tue 3 Nov, 18:00 to 06:00): eastbound Jct 18 to Jct 17 carriageway closure (170/6 to 155/2), 21:00 to 06:00; and Westbound Jct 1 to 3 carriageway closure, 22:00 to 05:30. Plus 6 lane or slip road closures. Diversion: Diversion via - A46 southbound, A420 eastbound, A350 northbound and rejoin M4 at Jct 17.

Tonight: M4 closures and diversions ›

Is the M4 closed this weekend?

Yes. The M4 has 1 full closure planned this weekend (Fri 6 Nov 18:00 to Mon 9 Nov 06:00): eastbound Jct 18 to Jct 17 carriageway closure (170/6 to 155/2), Fri 21:00 to 06:00. Plus 7 lane or slip road closures. Diversion: Diversion via - A46 southbound, A420 eastbound, A350 northbound and rejoin M4 at Jct 17.

This weekend: M4 closures and diversions ›

Is there an accident on the M4 today?

No. No collision has been reported on the M4 since midnight.

M4 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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🗺️ M4 Traffic Map — Where It's Happening

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

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  • 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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🔢 M4 Junction Status

Tap a junction for its page

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

A red or orange junction border marks a STATS19 collision blackspot. Tap any junction for its own page — live incidents and full collision history. Tap the funnel to filter the list above.

📊 How busy is the M4?

The M4 carries up to 156,491 vehicles a day at its busiest stretch (near J4), including 6,249 HGVs — the 6th busiest motorway in Britain. Official Department for Transport counts, 2025.

156,491
🚗 vehicles a day · near J4
6,249
🚛 lorries a day
2025
📅 DfT count year
4% HGVs
share of traffic on the busiest stretch
Busiest stretch of each motorway — vehicles a day
M25 212,636
M6 187,521
M56 179,634
M1 162,446
M8 158,065
M4 156,491
View as table
RoadBusiest stretchVehicles/dayHGVs/dayHGV share
M25 near J14 212,636 14,853 7%
M6 J20–J21 187,521 23,492 12.5%
M56 J3–J4 179,634 7,547 4.2%
M1 near J9 162,446 19,151 11.8%
M8 J16–J17 158,065 7,214 4.6%
M4 ◀ near J4 156,491 6,249 4%
Source: Department for Transport road traffic statistics, average annual daily flows 2025. Official counts, updated yearly.

📈 M4 Journey Pulse — when incidents actually happen

Measured from 398 incidents recorded on the M4 since January 2026: the riskiest window is 14:00–17:00, when 20% of incidents start. Right now (12:00) you're outside the peak window.

View as table
HourIncidentsShare
00:00–01:00 9 2.3%
01:00–02:00 6 1.5%
02:00–03:00 9 2.3%
03:00–04:00 9 2.3%
04:00–05:00 6 1.5%
05:00–06:00 14 3.5%
06:00–07:00 21 5.3%
07:00–08:00 21 5.3%
08:00–09:00 24 6%
09:00–10:00 19 4.8%
10:00–11:00 16 4%
11:00–12:00 11 2.8%
12:00–13:00 30 7.5%
13:00–14:00 19 4.8%
14:00–15:00 ◀ peak 23 5.8%
15:00–16:00 ◀ peak 32 8%
16:00–17:00 ◀ peak 24 6%
17:00–18:00 22 5.5%
18:00–19:00 14 3.5%
19:00–20:00 14 3.5%
20:00–21:00 17 4.3%
21:00–22:00 14 3.5%
22:00–23:00 12 3%
23:00–00:00 12 3%
Measured from 398 incidents recorded by this site since January 2026 (planned roadworks excluded). Recomputed nightly from our incident archive.

🧭 Along the M4

🔀 Major interchanges — where the M4 meets other roads
J4BM25 J19M32 J20M5 J21M48 J23M48
✈️J4–J4B
Heathrow Airport
J4 for Terminals 2 & 3 · J4B for Terminal 5
🔀J20
Almondsbury Interchange
UK's first four-level interchange (1966), meeting the M5
🌉J21–J23
Prince of Wales Bridge
Severn crossing — tolls abolished December 2018, now free
🏉J28
Principality Stadium
Cardiff — about 15 minutes from J28 via the A48

📍 Heading to… off the M4

The places people drive to most, the M4 junction for each, and live M4 incidents nearby at 12:58.

Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse

Ascot, Berkshire
🛣️ M4 junction: J6
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

Flat and jumps racing; hosts Royal Ascot and British Champions Day

🧭 Directions M4 J6 live Berkshire traffic
Theme park

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

Windsor, Berkshire
🛣️ M4 junction: J6
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

Theme park on the B3022 Windsor–Ascot road, two miles from Windsor town centre

🧭 Directions M4 J6 live Berkshire traffic
Heritage

Windsor Castle

Windsor, Berkshire
🛣️ M4 junction: J6
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

Royal castle in Windsor; council car parks and Park and Ride serve the town

🧭 Directions M4 J6 live Berkshire traffic
Stadium

Select Car Leasing Stadium

Reading, Berkshire
🛣️ M4 junction: J11
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

Reading FC's ground, close to M4 J11 and the A33 relief road

🧭 Directions M4 J11 live Berkshire traffic
Shopping

Swindon Designer Outlet

Swindon, Wiltshire
🛣️ M4 junction: J16
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

Designer outlet centre in Swindon, a few miles from M4 J16

🧭 Directions M4 J16 live Wiltshire traffic
Motorsport

Castle Combe Circuit

Castle Combe, Wiltshire
🛣️ M4 junction: J17, J18
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

Motor racing circuit 5 miles west of Chippenham on the B4039

🧭 Directions M4 J17 live Wiltshire traffic
Airport

Heathrow Airport

Heathrow, Greater London
🛣️ Via the M4
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

83.9 million passengers in 2024; £7 charge to use terminal drop-off areas

🧭 Directions Greater London traffic
Racecourse

Newbury Racecourse

Newbury, Berkshire
🛣️ Via the M4
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 3 miles

M4/A4 traffic enters via Hambridge Road; A339 traffic via Racecourse Road

🧭 Directions Berkshire traffic
Crossing

Prince of Wales Bridge (M4)

Severn Beach, Gloucestershire
🛣️ Via the M4
✅ No M4 incidents reported within 2 miles

M4 Severn crossing to Wales; toll-free since 17 December 2018

🧭 Directions Gloucestershire traffic

⚠️ Most Dangerous M4 Junctions

Based on DfT STATS19 police collision records. The M4 has 2,894 recorded collisions at 74 collision hotspots, involving 4,470 casualties (87 fatal). Take extra care here. Ranked by fatal, then serious collisions, then casualties - not by the number of collisions alone.

#1
nr Chipping Sodbury
76 collisions · 120 casualties · 5 fatal · 7 serious
Severe Blackspot
#2
nr Hungerford
72 collisions · 138 casualties · 4 fatal · 16 serious
Severe Blackspot
#3
J6
96 collisions · 132 casualties · 4 fatal · 7 serious
Severe Blackspot
#4
GR51.55N_3.06W
23 collisions · 43 casualties · 4 fatal · 3 serious
Severe Blackspot
#5
J4
231 collisions · 352 casualties · 3 fatal · 21 serious
Severe Blackspot
#6
J5
141 collisions · 235 casualties · 3 fatal · 16 serious
Severe Blackspot
🔍 See the full M4 collision blackspot map →

🛒 Journey Essentials

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📰 M4 traffic news, updates and closures

This is the M4 traffic news page from UK Traffic Updates: M4 traffic now, for the whole road from London (Chiswick) to Pont Abraham (Wales). Every crash, breakdown, lane closure, delay and roadworks National Highways report for the M4 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 M4 information people used to check there is here in one place: today's M4 incidents, M4 closures tonight from their daily closure report, M4 roadworks, M4 accidents today, the junction-by-junction status and a live map. Our M4 traffic videos show what it looks like on the road, and drivers can report what they see as it happens.

Want M4 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.

❓ M4 Traffic — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the M4 closed today?

Any M4 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 M4 today?

The live feed above shows every incident, delay, roadwork and overnight closure on the M4, updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, from National Highways.

Is there an incident on the M4 right now?

Every live incident on the M4 — 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 M4?

The M4 is typically busiest during morning rush hour (07:00–09:30) and evening rush hour (16:30–19:30) on weekdays.

Are there roadworks on the M4 right now?

There are currently 2 active roadwork schemes on the M4. Check the live feed above for exact locations and durations.

What roads connect to the M4?

The M4 connects to: M25, M32, M48, M5, A34, A46.

Where can I get M4 traffic news and updates?

Right here. This M4 traffic news page shows M4 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 M4 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 M4 eastbound or westbound today?

Each side has its own live page: the M4 eastbound and the M4 westbound 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.

How many vehicles use the M4 every day?

Official Department for Transport counts (2025) record 156,491 vehicles a day on the M4's busiest stretch (near J4), 6,249 of them HGVs. The full breakdown and comparison chart are in the traffic statistics section above.

How busy is the M4 compared with other motorways?

The M4 has the 6th busiest motorway stretch in Britain at 156,491 vehicles a day (DfT 2025), behind the M25's 212,636 a day at the top.

What time of day is the M4 worst for incidents?

Measured from 398 incidents recorded on the M4 since January 2026, the riskiest window is 14:00–17:00, when 20% of incidents start. The quietest is 00:00–03:00. Incidents on the M4 typically clear in about 65 minutes.

Is there a toll on the M4 Severn crossing?

No — tolls on the Prince of Wales Bridge (M4) and the original Severn Bridge (M48) were abolished on 17 December 2018. Both crossings between England and Wales are now free in both directions.

📊 M4 Status Summary

0
Active incidents
0
Severe/serious
2
Roadworks
12:58
Last updated
🆘 Broken down on the M4?
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ℹ️ M4 Road Details

Length
190 miles
Junctions
J1–J49
From
London (Chiswick)
To
Pont Abraham (Wales)
Type
Motorway
AM Rush
07:00–09:30
PM Rush
16:30–19:30

📍 Key M4 Locations

London Slough Reading Newbury Swindon Bristol Cardiff Swansea

🔗 Roads Connecting to the M4

M25 M25 trafficMeets the M4 at J4B Live → M32 M32 trafficMeets the M4 at J19 Live → M48 M48 trafficMeets the M4 at J21 Live → M5 M5 trafficMeets the M4 at J20 Live → A34 A34 trafficA34 Trunk Road Live → A46 A46 trafficA46 Trunk Road Live →

🛣️ M4 Services & Motorway Stops

M Heston Services
J2–3 · Moto · 🔋 EV View → M Reading Services
J11–12 · Moto · 🔋 EV · 🏨 View → M Chieveley Services
J13 · Moto · 🔋 EV View → WB Membury Services
J14–15 · Welcome Break · 🔋 EV View → M Leigh Delamere Services
J17–18 · Moto · 🔋 EV · 🏨 View → WB Magor Services
J23A · Welcome Break · 🔋 EV · 🏨 View → WB Cardiff Gate Services
J30 · Welcome Break · 🔋 EV · 🏨 View → M Cardiff West Services
J33 · Moto · 🔋 EV · 🏨 View → All motorway services →

🔗 Related Tools

🛣️My Commute — save your route NEW 🚧M4 Roadworks View → 🕵️Was I Affected? Check → 🔄Route Checker Plan → 📋Incident Archive Browse → 🗺️Live Map View →

📱 Follow M4 traffic updates

Daily M4 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 M4

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🚛 Car recovery along the M4

Broken down on the M4? 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