Motorway Accident M60, M6, and M62

Serious Accident on the M60, M6, and M62 – How to Stay Safe and What to Do in an Emergency

Motorway crashes on the M60, M6, and M62 are happening almost daily. At high speeds, and with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), even a minor lapse in attention can cause a catastrophic event.

This guide is your motorway survival manual—what to do in the worst-case scenarios, how to stay calm, and how to protect yourself and others. Whether you’re a new driver or a regular commuter, these tips could one day save your life.

Why Motorways Like the M60, M6, and M62 Are So Dangerous ?

1 - These motorways are some of the UK’s busiest:

• The M60 circles Manchester, connecting to the M62 and M56, with bottlenecks near the Trafford Centre and Stockport.

• The M6 is the backbone of England’s motorway network, running from the Midlands to the Scottish border.

• The M62 links Liverpool to Hull, running through Manchester, Rochdale, and Huddersfield.

2 - Poor driving

• Us responsible motorway users see dangerous and poor driving every day when using motorways, it is definitely on the rise.

3 - Foreign drivers

• With increasing trade across Europe, there are more european HGV drivers on the roads than ever. These HGV's are usually left hand drive making it more difficult for the HGV driver to see what is passing on his right. On June 17th 2025, Inson Legal won a claim at trial where the lorry driver moved right into our client's Ferarri California causing it to spin. No injuries but £36,000 worth of damage was caused.

Every day, accidents involving HGVs, multi-vehicle pile-ups, and serious collisions make headlines. These motorways are fast, busy, and unpredictable.

Emergency Manoeuvres – What to Do in Real-World Scenarios

🚛 A HGV Swerves Into Your Lane

Stay calm—this is frightening but survivable:

• Ease off the accelerator and gently apply your brakes.

• Do not jerk the wheel—sudden movements at high speed can lead to rollovers or skids.

• If clear, indicate and move lanes gradually.

• Use your horn if needed to alert the driver.

• Drop back to regain a safe following distance.

🚨 A HGV Tips Over or starts to roll next to You

If a lorry tips beside you:

• If you are alongside the middle or to the back of the lorry, brake harder than the lorry is slowing, keeping a straight wheel unless it is safe to move to the other lane.

• If you are to the front of the lorry and the road ahead is clear, accelerate to clear the side of the lorry.

• REMEMBER - The main goal is to not be crushed by the lorry which may have a heavy load.

• If you've cleared the lorry and its tipped over, pull over as soon as safely possible and call 999.

• Do not exit the vehicle until it's safe to do so.

🚧 A Vehicle Crosses the Central Reservation Into Your Path

One of the most terrifying—but not unheard of—scenarios.

Should You Swerve to Avoid a Head-On Collision on the Motorway?

One of the most terrifying motorway scenarios is a vehicle crossing the central reservation into your lane, potentially facing you head-on at 70mph. The instinct may be to swerve—but is that the safest option? Here's what official guidance and advanced driving experts say.

🚨 The Official Guidance

Organisations like National Highways and the AA focus on risk reduction and driver predictability. Their advice is:

- Stay in your lane and brake firmly in a straight line.

- Avoid sudden swerves that could cause you to lose control or enter another fast-moving lane.

- Activate hazard lights to warn traffic behind you.

- Call 999 once you are stopped and safe.

⚠️ The Dilemma: Swerving vs Staying Put

What if you're convinced you're about to have a head-on impact with an HGV or another car? Wouldn't a side-impact with another vehicle be better?

Possibly — but only if:

✔️ You have clear visibility of the other lane.

✔️ There is space to move without hitting another vehicle at speed.

✔️ Your steering input is controlled and doesn't cause you to spin, roll, or collide with something worse.

The problem is that swerving at motorway speeds is extremely risky. Many fatalities occur not from the initial threat, but from secondary crashes caused by evasive steering.

🧠 The Safer General Rule

Brake firmly and keep control. Steer only if there’s a clear, safe escape route. If not, reducing your speed and staying in your lane is often the option that gives you the best chance of survival — and causes the least risk to others.

👨‍⚖️ Legally Speaking

If a driver makes an instinctive manoeuvre to avoid a head-on collision, courts are unlikely to criticise that. But from a safety perspective, swerving is not encouraged unless it’s clearly the lesser of two risks.

💥 Rear-Ended at High Speed

• Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle under control.

• Do not slam brakes unless it’s safe to do so.

• Pull into the hard shoulder or nearest refuge area.

• Turn on hazard lights.

• If your car can’t move, stay seatbelted, call 999, and don’t get out unless in danger.

How to Handle a Motorway Breakdown

If your car breaks down on the M6, M60, or M62:

Step-by-Step:

1. Move left whilst your car is slowing, over onto the hard shoulder or emergency refuge area.

2. Turn on hazard lights immediately.

3. Exit the vehicle via the left-hand door.

4. Stand behind the safety barrier, away from the road.

5. Use the SOS emergency phone or call National Highways on 0300 123 5000.

6. If unsafe to exit, stay in your seat with seatbelt on, hazard lights flashing, and call 999.

Proven Safe Driving Tips from The AA & National Highways

• 📏 Two-second rule: Always leave a two-second gap from the car ahead (double in wet weather).

• 🚘 Keep left unless overtaking.

• 💡 Use headlights in poor visibility.

• ❌ Never stop on a motorway unless it’s an emergency.

• 🚫 Don’t rubberneck: Slowing to look at crashes causes secondary collisions.

• 🔺 Watch for red “X” signs on gantries—these are legally enforceable lane closures.

• 💨 In wind, reduce speed and keep two hands on the wheel.

Why Staying Calm Is Crucial (Even If It’s Terrifying)

Motorway emergencies are some of the most traumatic moments a driver can face. The shock, noise, and adrenaline make decision-making difficult. But drivers who stay calm and follow a plan have a significantly better chance of avoiding secondary accidents and mimising injuries.

Tell yourself staying calm is "NON-NEGOTIABLE"

👉 Breathe. Grip the wheel. Follow the plan.

Share This With Others – It Could Save Lives

This isn’t just another blog. These tips are based on real crashes happening every day on the M60, M6, and M62. If you’ve found it useful, please share it. Your friends, family, and colleagues deserve to know what to do in a motorway emergency.

Involved in a Motorway Crash? No Win No Fee Support with Inson Legal

🚫 No call centres, claims management companies, unknown numbers or middlemen.
💷 No upfront fees and no fees if the claim fails.
📞 Just speak directly to your personal injury solicitor Chris Hutchinson at Inson Legal.

From Bolton with extensive experience on the North Wests motorways driving thousands of motorway miles every year, Chris helps people across Greater Manchester and beyond with No Win No Fee support following serious road accidents on motorways.