Drivers have been caught in congestion on the M25 snarling back for miles after a crash involving a van.
Traffic has ground to a halt on the M25 clockwise in Surrey after a crash during the morning rush hour.
Motorists are being held between junction J10 (Guildford) and J11 (Woking) after a collision.
Queues are stretching for six miles, causing delays of around 45 minutes, National Highways warned.
Footage from the scene appears to show at least one van on the central reservation with its front smashed in.
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National Highways said: ‘Surrey Police are now on scene with traffic officers. There are currently delays of 45 minutes and 6 miles of congestion on the approach.’
There are also severe delays on the anticlockwise carriageway, with queues stretching back towards Heathrow Airport and J13.
Millions of trips expected on May bank holiday weekend
Meanwhile, the early May bank holiday is expected to be the busiest on roads in 10 years – despite the sky-high petrol and diesel prices.
The UK’s motorways and A-roads are forecast to see around 19 million trips over the weekend, the motoring expert RAC predicts.
Today has been labelled the ‘Frantic Friday’ as 3.7 million people are set to hit the roads.
Saturday is expected to be the busiest day of the entire weekend, with 4 million trips in the pipeline.
The worst times to travel this weekend are between 11am and 7pm today, and between 10am and 3pm tomorrow and Sunday.
On the bank holiday Monday, the least ideal travel time is between 11am and 6pm, the RAC warned.
Fuel prices continue to hover high due to the Iran war and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route responsible for almost a fifth of the world’s supply.
Figures from RAC’s fuel watch show that the average price of petrol across the UK is 157.17p and diesel is 189.23p, which means it costs £86 to fill up a family car with unleaded – £13 more than this time last year – and over £104 for diesel, which is £27 more than last year.
Sean Kimberlin, RAC’s mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said: ‘Even though fuel prices are uncomfortably high it clearly takes a lot to stop drivers taking to the roads to make the most of a bank holiday weekend.
‘And the fact our research shows it’s set to be the busiest early May bank holiday in 10 years shows just how much we, as a country, love a bank holiday – and depend on our cars to get us wherever we want to go.
‘In order to enjoy some time away, whether that’s a visit to the coast, a day out or a break with friends or family, it’s vital drivers make sure their vehicles are up to the task.’
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