What are motorway and major trunk road accidents?
Accidents on motorways and major trunk roads can be caused by a variety of factors, including road conditions, vehicle issues, traffic volume and driver behaviour. They can have a range of impacts including loss of life, injury and economic impacts, both from damaged caused, but also from the resulting traffic delays.
Across Hampshire we have a series of major routes, including: M27, M3, A3(M), M275.
When there are large accidents, the roads that are affected are shut. An example of this is the 2015 Shoreham Air Crash in Sussex which resulted in 11 fatalities, and the closure of the road for 8 days. Road closures have also happened in Hampshire, such as an incident in 2017 when the M3 was closed for 11 hours. This created severe disruption to the communities in Eastleigh and Winchester.
Local risk rating: High
What does the Local Resilience Forum do to prepare?
The Local Resilience Forum have structures in place to respond to accidents on motorways and major trunk roads. Roadways are monitored by local highway authorities who identify and respond to any incidents along major routes. Pre-planned diversion routes have been identified and will be implemented in the event of accidents affecting major trunk roads or motorways.
How can you prepare?
Before
Set your vehicle up to receive travel news
Ensure your vehicle is kept in a road worthy and safe condition
Avoid non-essential journeys during times of adverse weather
Plan your journey in advance
When driving adhere to the speed limits and drive safely
Listen to travel updates
Have an emergency kit in your care or basic items you may need when you travel. You may not be directly involved in an accident, but transport disruption could last for hours.
During
Contact 999 and ask for the relevant emergency service
Follow instructions given by the emergency services
Helpful links and resources
My Journey Hampshire
Whether you’re looking for information about local cycle routes to work, walking maps or links to public transport you can access it all here from this My Journey Hampshire.
Click on the link below and use the map to see where there are roadworks in your local area and what kind of work is being done. You'll be able to check if it's likely to cause delays in traffic, so you can plan your journey accordingly.
Southampton Roads
Southampton City Council and Balfour Beatty Living Places are working together to manage the highways service in Southampton.
Follow Southampton Roads on BlueSky for up to date travel news in Southampton
Portsmouth City Council - Roadworks and closures
This page will help you see what roadworks are planned in Portsmouth, but bear in mind that they might change because of bad weather, emergencies, or if changes are needed once the work starts.
Island Roads
Click on the link below for information regarding roadworks and closures currently being undertaken or planned on the Isle of Wight.
