An M62 junction serving Salford has been named as the third worst place in the UK for motorway breakdowns, with an average of five incidents recorded each day.
A freedom of information request has revealed that Junction 11/12 on the M62 at the Birchwood Interchange Eastbound near Eccles saw a total of 1,838 vehicle breakdowns over the past year.
The research came from car insurance experts MoneySuperMarket and was based on an FOI request to National Highways.
It uncovered that breakdowns on UK motorways have risen by 71 per cent since 2020.
303,213 breakdowns were recorded across the motorway network in 2025, a 7 per cent rise from the previous year.
Kara Gammell, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, highlighted that breakdowns have blighted drivers travelling home at the end of the week.
“Friday is the most common day for breakdowns to happen, which is when many Brits will be hitting the road for weekend getaways or rushing home from work,” she said.
“Eagerness to get on the road could be contributing to these breakdowns with drivers skipping vehicle checks before they set off.
“Driving collisions can have a knock-on effect on breakdowns; vehicles stuck in long queues and heavy traffic can then overheat and break down, or motorists may drive over debris from accidents, causing tyre punctures.”
July saw the highest number of recorded breakdowns in 2025, coinciding with one of the UK’s warmest months on record.
The new breakdown figures come a twelve months down the line, with Salford sweltering in the third heatwave of this year.
Ms Gammell added: “Meanwhile, the data shows that July and August are the months that see the most breakdowns, and the increase in drivers on the roads at this time of the year will be part of the cause.
“Seasonal vehicles such as campervans and caravans can suffer issues after a lack of use in the winter months and being taken back onto the road without proper checks.
“Hot weather can also cause problems generally with vehicles overheating, especially if you’re in heavy traffic, which means you’re stopping and starting.”
