Wrong-Way Motorway Driving Incidents Reach Nearly 1,000 a Year

The number of reports of motorists driving in the wrong direction on England’s motorways has risen significantly over recent years, according to newly released figures from National Highways.

Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows that 947 incidents involving vehicles travelling against the flow of traffic were reported during the 12 months to 11 May 2026. The figure equates to around 18 incidents every week and represents a substantial increase compared with the 729 reports recorded during the same period four years earlier.

Although the latest total is slightly lower than the 974 incidents reported in the preceding 12-month period, road safety experts say the figures remain deeply concerning given the potentially catastrophic consequences of wrong-way driving.

The statistics are based on reports received by National Highways’ operations centres from sources including police forces, traffic officers and members of the public. While not every report is ultimately confirmed, each one triggers an immediate response designed to protect motorists and minimise the risk of a collision.

Several fatal incidents have highlighted the dangers associated with drivers travelling in the wrong direction on high-speed roads.

In April this year, two motorists lost their lives following a collision on the M90 near Kinross in Scotland. Investigators found that one of the vehicles had been travelling against the direction of traffic. The driver of that vehicle was aged 44, while the driver of the second car was 20 years old.

A separate fatal incident occurred on the M6 in Lancashire in October 2025 when a man in his 50s drove the wrong way along the motorway before colliding with another vehicle near Charnock Richard Services. Two occupants of the second vehicle suffered serious injuries and required hospital treatment.

Road safety organisations have called for additional measures to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring.

Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation, said the number of reported cases demonstrates the need for further investment in motorway safety infrastructure. He suggested that improvements to junction layouts, enhanced road design and the wider deployment of detection technology could help prevent drivers from mistakenly entering motorways via exit slip roads.

He also pointed to emerging technologies, including roadside sensors and in-vehicle warning systems, as potential tools for alerting motorists when they are travelling in the wrong direction.

The AA believes driver impairment remains one of the most common causes of wrong-way motorway incidents. Edmund King, the organisation’s President, said factors such as alcohol, drugs and fatigue frequently contribute to these events.

He explained that drivers can also become disorientated at night, during poor weather conditions or when relying too heavily on satellite navigation systems. In some cases, motorists mistakenly enter an exit slip road after misinterpreting directions or failing to pay sufficient attention to road signs.

Contrary to popular assumptions, King said overseas visitors accustomed to driving on the right-hand side of the road are not typically responsible for the majority of incidents. Instead, impaired or confused local drivers account for a larger proportion of cases.

He added that a small number of incidents involve motorists deliberately driving the wrong way in an attempt to evade police pursuit, creating particularly dangerous situations for other road users.

Both the RAC Foundation and the AA have urged continued development of warning systems capable of detecting wrong-way vehicles and providing immediate alerts to drivers and traffic control centres.

National Highways stressed that safety remains its highest priority and that every report of an oncoming vehicle is treated as a serious incident. Response measures can include activating electronic warning signs, reducing speed limits and coordinating with emergency services to prevent collisions.

The organisation also cautioned that the figures represent reports rather than confirmed cases, meaning some incidents may ultimately prove to be false alarms. Nevertheless, officials acknowledged that even isolated examples of wrong-way driving can pose a significant threat on roads where vehicles are often travelling at motorway speeds.

With nearly 1,000 reports recorded over the past year, road safety campaigners argue that further action is needed to understand why these incidents occur and to ensure that both infrastructure and technology evolve to reduce the likelihood of potentially devastating consequences.