Live M6 Traffic Flow Map Now

How fast is the M6 moving right now? This live traffic flow map shows the speed on every stretch of the M6 from Junction 1 at Rugby to Junction 45 at Gretna, in both directions. Green is moving freely, amber is slow and red is very slow or stopped.

The map is a summary. For the full picture before you set off, see all the latest M6 traffic news, the overhead message signs showing on the M6 right now, and the speed limits on the overhead signs.

How to read the M6 speed flow map

North is at the top, so Gretna is at the top of the map and Rugby at the bottom. The left-hand line is the northbound carriageway and the right-hand line is southbound, so you can see the traffic on the other side of the road as well as your own. Junctions are spaced by the real distance between them, and the miles between each pair are shown on the left. Tap or click any stretch to see its speed and how recently it was measured.

The M6 is a long motorway, well over 200 miles, so use Show junctions to see only the part you are about to drive, and Colour the road by to switch between plain speed in miles per hour and speed compared with what is normal for that stretch at this time of day.

Services and connecting motorways

A red end on a junction sign with a knife, fork and fuel pump marks services, on the side you can reach them from. Connecting motorways, such as the M5 at Junction 8, the M56 at Junction 20, the M62 at Junction 21A and the M61 at Junction 30, are shown in blue. Where we run a site for that motorway, a pointing hand shows the way you turn off; tap it to see that motorway's map.

Where the speeds come from

The speeds come from National Highways' traffic data, which combines road sensors with vehicle data, and the map is refreshed every five minutes. Where no recent measurement is available for a stretch, the map shows the speed that is normal there at this time of day and says so when you tap it. Road closures reported by National Highways are shown in red with white crosses. Always follow the signs and signals you can see on the road.