M3 stopped traffic J3–J2 eastbound

Cleared Cleared at 10:43 on 10 Oct 2026, after 218 h 3 min.

Stopped traffic on the M3 eastbound at J3–J2 on Thursday 1 October 2026, from 08:40. Cleared at 10:43 after 218 h 3 min. Timeline of reports from TomTom and the motorway signs.

1. B

   M3 eastbound · J3–J2

   Broken-down vehicle

   Thu 08:40–Sat 10:43 (cleared after 218 h 3 min) · delay ~7 min · queue 3.9 mi

   TomTom ×2 · Motorway signs ×2

At its worst: stationary traffic · delay ~20 min

See the M3 on the live map M3 traffic now

Timeline

1. Thu 08:36 Motorway signs: “STRANDED VEHICLE”
2. Thu 08:40 Motorway signs: “INCIDENT [HCA2]”
3. Thu 08:42 TomTom: broken-down vehicle, “Broken down vehicle”
4. Thu 08:51 TomTom: broken-down vehicle, “Queuing traffic, Broken down vehicle”, delay ~6 min
5. Thu 09:01 TomTom: delay now ~20 min (was ~6), “Stationary traffic, Broken down vehicle”
6. Thu 09:05 TomTom: now says queueing traffic, “Stationary traffic”
7. Thu 09:14 TomTom: delay now ~7 min (was ~17), “Queuing traffic”
8. Thu 09:19 TomTom no longer reports it
9. Thu 09:22 Motorway signs no longer show “INCIDENT [HCA2]”
10. Thu 09:22 Motorway signs no longer show “STRANDED VEHICLE”
11. Thu 09:22 All clear: no source reports it any more
12. Fri 04:36 Motorway signs: “STRANDED VEHICLE” (reported again)
13. Fri 05:06 Motorway signs no longer show “STRANDED VEHICLE”
14. Fri 05:06 All clear: no source reports it any more
15. Fri 15:09 Motorway signs: “STRANDED VEHICLE” (reported again)
16. Fri 16:39 Motorway signs no longer show “STRANDED VEHICLE”
17. Fri 16:39 All clear: no source reports it any more
18. Sat 10:13 Motorway signs: “STRANDED VEHICLE” (reported again)
19. Sat 10:43 Motorway signs no longer show “STRANDED VEHICLE”
20. Sat 10:43 All clear: no source reports it any more

What the sources said

• Broken down vehicle
• Queuing traffic
• Overhead signs read “INCIDENT [HCA2]” (7 signs; furthest along: M3 eastbound between J3 and J2).
• Overhead signs read “STRANDED VEHICLE” (1 sign; furthest along: M3 eastbound between J3 and J2).

Other recent incidents on the M3

• M3 crash J14–J13 eastbound · yesterday 17:06, cleared after 1 h 33 min
• M3 stopped traffic J13–J12 eastbound · yesterday 10:57, cleared after 4 h 31 min
• M3 stopped traffic J12–J13 · Mon 06:54, cleared after 8 h 40 min
• M3 stopped traffic · Fri 16:52, cleared after 41 min
• M3 crash J3–J2 eastbound · Fri 14:04, cleared after 2 h 25 min
• M3 reported crash J4–J4A westbound · 8 Oct 2026 08:54, cleared after 32 h 45 min
• M3 crash J3–J4 westbound · 7 Oct 2026 17:05, cleared after 1 h 24 min
• M3 closed J13–J14 · 4 Oct 2026 11:45, cleared after 1 h 56 min
• M3 crash J3–J4 westbound · 3 Oct 2026 18:43, cleared after 120 h 43 min
• M3 crash J4A eastbound · 3 Oct 2026 14:24, cleared after 46 min

About this page

This page shows what the data sources reported about this event and when, merged from every source that reported it at the same place. It doesn't say what caused it or whether anyone was hurt: no source reports that. Times are UK time. For live alerts, follow @motorways.me on Bluesky.