M1 stopped traffic J21A–J21 southbound

Stopped traffic on the M1 southbound at J21A–J21 on Tuesday 20 October 2026, from 16:38. Still reported at 20:07 UK time. Timeline of reports from TomTom and the motorway signs.

Status

Live since 16:38 (3 h 29 min)

Location

M1 southbound · J21A–J21

Reported as

Obstruction or hazard

At its worst

Stationary traffic · delay ~89 min

Sources

TomTom ×3 · Motorway signs ×3

Timeline

1. 16:38 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Slow traffic”, delay ~3 min
2. 16:57 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
3. 17:06 TomTom: “Slow traffic”
4. 17:10 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
5. 17:19 TomTom: delay now ~15 min (was ~10), “Stationary traffic”
6. 17:38 TomTom: “Queuing traffic”
7. 17:42 Motorway signs: “INCIDENT SLOW DOWN”
8. 17:51 TomTom: “Stationary traffic”
9. 17:53 Motorway signs: “REPORT OF DEBRIS”
10. 18:01 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Slow traffic”, delay ~3 min
11. 18:05 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Stationary traffic”, delay ~29 min (reported again)
12. 18:46 TomTom: delay now ~21 min (was ~36)
13. 18:48 Motorway signs no longer show “INCIDENT SLOW DOWN”
14. 18:48 Motorway signs no longer show “REPORT OF DEBRIS”
15. 18:51 TomTom: delay now ~10 min (was ~21)
16. 18:56 TomTom no longer reports it
17. 18:56 All clear: no source reports it any more
18. 19:03 Motorway signs: “INCIDENT SLOW DOWN”
19. 19:46 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Stationary traffic”, delay ~19 min
20. 19:50 TomTom: delay now ~89 min (was ~19)
21. 19:55 TomTom: delay now ~27 min (was ~89)
22. 20:00 TomTom: delay now ~78 min (was ~27)
23. 20:04 TomTom no longer reports it

Source reports

• Stationary traffic
• Overhead signs read “INCIDENT SLOW DOWN” (2 signs; furthest along: M1 southbound between J21A and J21).
• Slow traffic
• Overhead signs read “REPORT OF DEBRIS” (5 signs; furthest along: M1 southbound between J21A and J21).
• Overhead signs read “INCIDENT SLOW DOWN” (1 sign; furthest along: M1 southbound between J22 and J21A).

Other recent incidents on the M1

• M1 crash J23–J23A northbound17:02 · cleared after 1 h 12 min
• M1 crash J8–J9 northbound14:48 · cleared after 4 h 54 min
• M1 reported crash J24A–J25 northbound12:03 · cleared after 42 min
• M1 stopped traffic J22–J21A08:13 · cleared after 1 h 5 min
• M1 reported crash J22–J23 northbound08:01 · cleared after 43 min
• M1 crash J34–J35 northbound07:35 · cleared after 39 min
• M1 crash J36–J37 northbound07:31 · cleared after 2 h 14 min
• M1 reported crash J29A northbound06:56 · cleared after 49 min
• M1 delays J1006:29 · cleared after 3 h 31 min
• M1 crash J4–J5 northboundyesterday 21:23 · cleared after 1 h 19 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.