We’ve all been there—stuck on a motorway that seems like it’ll never move, staring at a digital sign that warns of delays, only to find nothing causing them.
For many UK drivers, that motorway is the M1.
And now, it’s official—this major route from London to Leeds has just been voted the worst motorway in England.
From constant speed changes to confusing safety decisions, drivers have had enough—and they’re not staying quiet about it.
Chaos, Delays, and a Whole Lot of Stress
Stretching 193 miles, the M1 is meant to be a vital link between the capital and the north.
But for many, it’s a dreaded route. Long queues, unpredictable journey times, and endless roadworks have turned it into a stressful experience.
Take Daniel Ward from Manchester, for example.
He regularly drives the M1 for work between his offices in London and the north.
“It’s absolute chaos,” he said during a stop at London Gateway services.
What should be a 3.5-hour journey regularly takes him five hours—or more. And trying to take work calls on the road? Forget it.
The signal is patchy, and the service areas don’t help much either.
The Hard Shoulder Dilemma
One of the biggest frustrations is the removal of the hard shoulder in favour of an extra running lane.
On many parts of the M1, this means if your car breaks down, you’re stuck—in live traffic.
“What are people meant to do when they break down?” Daniel asked, calling it “incredibly dangerous.”
Other drivers echoed the same concern. Ruth and John Hudson, travelling from Newcastle, agreed the missing hard shoulder makes them nervous.
“It worries me,” said Ruth. “I’d rather take the A1, honestly.”
Speed Limits That Feel Like Traps
Then there’s the constantly changing speed limits. On a smart motorway, the idea is to keep traffic flowing by adjusting the speed.
But drivers say it’s just confusing—and costly.
John Hudson admitted he’s been caught by speed cameras before.
Others have complained about sudden drops in speed for hazards that never appear. One motorist mentioned getting a warning about a cyclist on the road—only to see no cyclist at all.
“It just makes everyone slow down for no reason,” he said.
A History of Tragedy and a Lack of Action
Concerns about the M1 aren’t new. Back in 2023, a coroner from Northamptonshire raised a red flag after overseeing the inquest of David Levett, a disabled man who died when his car was hit on a stretch of the M1 with no hard shoulder.
She warned road bosses that the layout put lives at risk.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did cancel future smart motorway projects in 2023, citing a loss of public trust.
But existing smart motorway sections—like those on the M1—remain in place.
That’s left many campaigners angry, arguing that the most dangerous parts of the road have been left untouched.
Drivers Vent About Congestion That Just Won’t Quit
Long-time HGV driver Jeff Alstead didn’t mince his words.
“The M1 is awful,” he said, taking a break at Newport Pagnell services.
“There’s always traffic, and I can tell you where it’ll be every time.”
According to Jeff, the new lane system has actually made things worse, not better.
His frustration was echoed by others, including Nicky Frances, who had already witnessed a crash by the time he reached Toddington Services.
He was driving from Margate to Manchester and described the road as “slow-moving and irritating.”
Visitors from Abroad Are Equally Baffled
It’s not just locals who are fed up. American visitor Shelley Bartosa shared her own story: “We were on the M1 last summer when a sausage truck overturned—we were stuck for hours.”
She also noticed how few exit points the road has compared to highways back in the U.S., which made the delay feel even worse.
Survey Confirms the Complaints
The official confirmation came through the latest Transport Focus Strategic Roads User Survey, which gave the M1 a dismal 57% satisfaction score—placing it just above the A47, which scored 56%.
In comparison, the newly upgraded A30 from Exeter to Penzance came out as England’s best-rated road.
Even the M25, often dubbed the “car park” of the UK, scored higher than the M1. Still, not everyone agrees.
Some drivers actually think the M25 is worse. “We were stuck on the M25 for two hours last Friday,” said Catharine Crawshaw.
One Driver Says Things Have Gotten Better—Sort Of
Not all feedback was negative. HGV driver David Duro believes the M1 has improved in recent years.
“It’s a motorway,” he shrugged. “Sometimes it flows, sometimes it doesn’t.
You just have to get there safely.” He says he’s learned not to stress about it.
Officials Promise Better Planning and Fewer Cones
Responding to the feedback, Transport Focus director Louise Collins acknowledged the impact of “long stretches of roadworks” and a “disappointing downward trend” in user satisfaction.
She said they’ll be working with National Highways to reduce the disruption caused by future projects.
Meanwhile, National Highways claims the worst is over.
As of March, they’ve completed work on more than 150 emergency areas and say the M1 is now free of major roadworks for the first time since 2008.
Whether that improves the driving experience remains to be seen.