M1 crash J41–J42 northbound

Crash on the M1 northbound at J41–J42 on Friday 16 October 2026, from 15:54. Still reported at 17:46 UK time. Timeline of reports from TomTom, the motorway signs and National Highways.

Status

Live since 15:54 (1 h 53 min)

Location

M1 northbound · J41–J42

Reported as

Collision

At its worst

Delay ~13 min

Sources

TomTom ×2 · Motorway signs ×5 · National Highways

Timeline

1. 15:54 Motorway signs: “COLLISION [HCA0]”
2. 16:10 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Queuing traffic”, delay ~6 min
3. 16:15 Motorway signs: “COLLISION SLOW DOWN”
4. 16:15 Motorway signs: “M1 J41-J42 COLLISION”
5. 16:15 TomTom: collision, “Stationary traffic, Accident”, delay ~12 min
6. 16:19 TomTom: now says queueing traffic, “Stationary traffic”
7. 16:19 TomTom: “Stationary traffic”
8. 16:24 Motorway signs: “M1 J41-J42 COLLISION”
9. 16:24 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
10. 16:28 Motorway signs: “STRANDED VEHICLE”
11. 16:28 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
12. 16:33 TomTom: “Slow traffic”
13. 16:42 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
14. 16:47 TomTom: “Stationary traffic”
15. 16:56 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Slow traffic”, delay ~4 min (reported again)
16. 17:05 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
17. 17:10 TomTom: “Stationary traffic”
18. 17:23 Motorway signs no longer show “M1 J41-J42 COLLISION”
19. 17:28 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
20. 17:30 National Highways: lane closure lifted
21. 17:33 TomTom: “Slow traffic”
22. 17:37 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
23. 17:42 TomTom no longer reports it

Source reports

• Slow traffic
• Queuing traffic
• Overhead signs read “COLLISION SLOW DOWN” (1 sign; furthest along: M1 northbound between J41 and J42).
• Overhead signs read “COLLISION [HCA0]” (1 sign; furthest along: M1 J42 northbound exit).
• Overhead signs read “M1 J41-J42 COLLISION” (3 signs; e.g. M1 northbound between J39 and J40). Marker placed near M1 J41–J42 using the signs there, so it is approximate.
• Overhead signs read “STRANDED VEHICLE” (1 sign; furthest along: M1 northbound between J40 and J41).
• M1 northbound between J40 and J41
• Overhead signs read “M1 J41-J42 COLLISION” (1 sign; e.g. M1 northbound between J37 and J38). Marker placed near M1 J41–J42 using the signs there, so it is approximate.

Other recent incidents on the M1

• M1 crash J22–J21A northbound14:30 · Live
• M1 crash J21A–J22 northbound13:06 · cleared after 4 h 27 min
• M1 crash J10 southbound10:29 · Live
• M1 reported crash J33–J34 northbound09:15 · cleared after 35 min
• M1 crash J32 northbound09:04 · cleared after 1 h 17 min
• M1 reported crash J6 southbound06:42 · cleared after 1 h 8 min
• M1 crash J11 southbound06:08 · cleared after 3 h 12 min
• M1 crash J15–J14 southbound04:00 · cleared after 2 h 20 min
• M1 crash J33–J34 northbound01:34 · cleared after 2 h 45 min
• M1 crash J9–J10 southboundyesterday 21:10 · cleared after 1 h 47 min

The sources don't report causes or injuries, so neither does this page. Times are UK time. For alerts, follow @motorways.me on Bluesky.